Cancer patients left in limbo as KNH radiotherapy machine breaks down
KNH Acting CEO William Sigilai said the hospital has fast-tracked the procurement of a new machine.
Cancer patients at the Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) have reportedly not received treatment for two weeks following the sudden failure of the hospital’s LINAC Elekta machine, an essential tool for radiotherapy treatment.
In a statement, the hospital’s Acting Chief Executive Officer, Dr William Sigilai, confirmed that the machine is currently out of service but assured the public that swift measures have been taken to reduce disruption in oncology services.
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“We recognise the critical importance of uninterrupted oncology services, and we immediately activated referral protocols to safeguard patient care,” Sigilai said as quoted by Citizen TV.
KNH noted that its Cobalt radiotherapy machine, which had previously broken down, has now been fully restored and is operational.
New machine
To address the service gap caused by the LINAC failure, Sigilai said the hospital has fast-tracked the procurement of a new machine.
“The procurement of a new LINAC machine has been fast-tracked through the appropriate tendering channels and is now at a very advanced stage,” he said.
“We remain fully committed to delivering world-class, compassionate care. We appreciate the patience and understanding of our patients and stakeholders, and we will continue to provide regular updates as progress is made.”
Recently, the Ministry of Health revealed that Kenya loses nine women every day to cervical cancer, with more than 3,000 deaths recorded annually from the disease.
Cervical cancer is classified as the world’s second leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women.
The ministry further disclosed that the country registers about 5,226 new cases of cervical cancer each year.
Globally, cancer claims the lives of around 10 million people annually, highlighting the urgent need for increased prevention, early detection, and treatment efforts.
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