Cancer patients to leave for Nairobi in two weeks

The first batch of cancer patients will be leaving for Kenya to receive radio therapy treatment at the Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH) in the next two weeks.

This was revealed by the Uganda Cancer Institute (UCI) Executive Director, Dr. Jackson Orem during the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Ministry of Health and the AKUH, at the ministry headquarters today, Thursday.

In April early this year, the country's only Cancer-Managing Cobalt-60 radiation machine broke down. But AKUH pledged to offer free treatment to 400 cancer patients.

"We had to formalize this whole arrangement since it involves bilateral discussions because it involves an international aspect where people are crossing borders. We also had to come up with agreed guidelines between the two countries and institutions. Now the process has been finalized and our people will now be taken for treatment," he noted.

He said 20 patients with treatable cancer qualify for the treatment.

"We shall be taking 16 in the next two weeks. We so far have 20 patients who qualify but the vetting committee is continuing with the vetting exercise".

The MoU was signed by the ministry's undersecretary, Ronald Ssegawa and the Executive Director, Uganda Cancer institute (UCI) Dr. Jackson Orem on behalf of Government, together with Shawn Balouki, (Chief Executive Officer AKUH) and Martha Osiro (Center manager for the hospital in Uganda).

The signing was witnessed by the Diplomatic Representative, Aga Khan Development Network in Uganda, Amin Mawji, other AKUH and ministry officials.

Orem said the accommodation for all patients will be catered for by government.

AKUH CEO, Balouki said they are committed to supporting Uganda through Public Private Partnerships.

The Chief Finance Officer AKUH, Al-Karim Haji said they intend to establish the AKUH in Kampala to get services here instead of having Ugandans traveling abroad.

The vetting committee chairman, Dr. Henry Ddungu said they target tumour type cancers which are responsive to radiotherapy.

Ssegawa, the undersecretary, thanked AKUH for rescuing Uganda when there is need.