The Kenyan hospital waging war against cancer

Kabarak University Referral Mission Hospital in Kenya is set to revolutionise health services in the country and reduce cases of Kenyans seeking healthcare abroad.

The 500-bed facility will be constructed on a 100-acre parcel in Kabarak and will include a 250-bed branch in Nairobi. 

The ground-breaking ceremony for the Ksh45b state-of-the-art facility was presided over by Baringo Senator Gideon Moi on behalf of former Kenya president Daniel arap Moi at Kabarak Grounds in June. 

The referral hospital, which is expected to start operations in 2020, will have a modern cancer treatment centre, centre for disease control, critical care, renal and kidney section, obstetrics and gynaecology section, paediatric area, biomedical research centre, outpatient services, cardiac and heart centres.

Alexander Oketch (L) from General Electric with former Kenyan President Daniel arap Moi.

The facility's cancer centre is equipped to help reduce rising cases of patients travelling abroad in search of treatment by providing the best diagnostic and treatment facilities. 

In efforts aimed at providing quality health services to all Kenyans and provide a solution to increased cases of lifestyle diseases, the facility will work together with 23 mission hospitals in the country. 

Modern equipment to obtain the best medical facilities, the referral hospital will partner with General Electric (GE), who will equip the facility with modern equipment. 

GE Healthcare Regional Project Development Director, Alexander Oketch, said modern medical machines that will be installed at the centre will offer advanced types of care and be capable of diagnosing and treating the most complicated medical cases.

Health Cabinet Secretary of Kenya Dr. Cleopa Mailu (L) said the Government would fully support the project.

"Kabarak University Teaching, Research, and Referral Mission Hospital is a world-class facility that will handle infectious diseases, both communicable and non-communicable diseases, emerging and re-emerging diseases," Oketch said. 

The facility's cancer centre is equipped to help reduce rising cases of patients travelling abroad in search of treatment by providing the best diagnostic and treatment facilities. The centre, according to Oketch, will employ qualified surgeons and support postgraduate programmes in medicine, pharmacy and nursing. 

Kabarak University has also entered an MOU with mission hospitals affiliated to the Christian Health Association of Kenya (CHAK) to provide affordable services to people in rural areas.