Kenyatta University hospital launches comprehensive Breast Cancer centre

The Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral and Research Hospital (KUTRRH) has launched a new Comprehensive Breast Care Centre; a move that will give a boost to the fight against Cancer in the country.

The centre launched on Friday is meant to enhance quality Cancer diagnosis, treatment and patient care across the country.

The new centre is established at a time when the country continues to experience breast cancer cases with statistics showing that at least 6,799 cases are reported annually while 3,107 cancer victims die yearly.

“From the KUTRRH comprehensive breast cancer care centre, we look forward to identifying undiagnosed cases, asymptomatic cases as well as those who may have risk modifying or precancerous stages in the breast which would predispose them to breast cancer,” said the facility’s board member Grace Ogalo.

The idea of this Comprehensive Breast Care Centre was informed by the high prevalence of breast cancer in Kenya.

“It’s a one-stop shop for patients with symptoms that would quickly indicate breast cancer and a quicker access to treatment in the shortest time possible,” Health PS Susan Mochache stated.

This new centre is geared towards providing quick access and affordable diagnostic tests, scans, and results within 60 days of presentation.

"The centre is currently providing subsidized services in mammography at Ksh.2,000, breast ultrasound at Ksh.1,500, breast MRI at Ksh.25,000 and staging PET/CT scans for those without NHIF cover at Ksh.18,000, these subsidies are expected to continue through the month of November this year," KUTRRH CEO Ahmed Dagane explained.

Breast cancer survivors have for long, had to grapple with catastrophic health expenditures pushing many into poverty and depression

“Sometimes you find that we organize harambees but by the time we get that money it might be too late, with cancer progressing to another stage,” a Cancer survivor said.

Switzerland Ambassador to Kenya Valentin Zellweger noted that the new breast care centre offers hope to thousands of Kenyans who have been struggling to seek treatment.