Kisumu Governor Peter Anyang' Nyong'o
Kenya is stepping up efforts to improve cancer outcomes by expanding early screening, strengthening local diagnostic capacity and bringing specialised care closer to patients, particularly those in western Kenya who have historically travelled to Nairobi or abroad for treatment.
The initiative, announced during the Nairobi International Cancer Forum, will see Kisumu County work with the Africa Cancer Foundation and international partners to strengthen cancer diagnosis, treatment and healthcare capacity in the region.
Kisumu Governor Professor Peter Anyang’ Nyong’o said inadequate equipment and specialized services have for years forced cancer patients to travel long distances to access care.
“We are trying to deal with that. To bring the capacity inside,” Nyong’o said, noting that patients from Kisumu were previously referred to Nairobi for treatment, while some were eventually forced to seek care abroad.
“In Nairobi, they didn’t even have the equipment. So people ended up going abroad, at a very costly price,” he said.
The partnership includes plans to establish the proposed Chun Jeong-Eun Nyong’o Cancer Centre in Kisumu, aimed at creating additional capacity for cancer diagnosis and treatment in western Kenya.