The Nakuru County Government has received brachytherapy applicators worth Sh56 million from the Ministry of Health to strengthen cancer treatment services at the Nakuru County Referral and Teaching Hospital (NCRTH).

The major infrastructure boost is expected to significantly improve access to specialised oncology care for patients across Nakuru and neighboring counties.

The equipment, delivered to the hospital’s Regional Cancer Centre, is expected to enhance the facility’s capacity to provide brachytherapy, a specialised form of radiation treatment that targets cancer cells while minimising exposure to surrounding healthy tissues.

Speaking during the official handover, NCRTH Director Dr. Santosh Devaraj, said the equipment would strengthen the hospital’s capacity to provide specialised cancer treatment, particularly for patients with cervical cancer.

He noted that the equipment will strengthen the hospital’s capacity to provide specialised treatment, particularly for cervical cancer patients and improve access to quality cancer care for residents of Nakuru and neighbouring counties.

 “Our goal is to ensure that patients can access essential treatment closer to home without the added burden of travelling long distances to seek specialised services,” said Dr. Devaraj.

 Dr. Devaraj stated that the equipment would support the delivery of targeted radiation treatment and enhance the hospital’s role as a regional centre for specialised cancer care.

Acting County Director of Medical Services Dr. Kevin Awere, said the investment demonstrated the importance of collaboration between the National and County Governments in strengthening healthcare infrastructure and expanding access to specialised medical services.

By equipping Nakuru County Referral and Teaching Hospital with specialised cancer treatment equipment, Dr. Awere highlighted that this demonstrates taking an important step towards improving access to care, reducing barriers to treatment and ensuring that more patients in Nakuru and the wider region benefit from specialised medical services.

He added that strengthening regional referral facilities was essential in bringing specialised healthcare closer to communities and easing the challenges faced by patients seeking treatment outside their counties.

 Brachytherapy applicators are specialised medical devices used to position and guide a radiation source inside or near a tumour during treatment.

The technique allows clinicians to deliver radiation directly to cancerous tissue while limiting exposure to surrounding healthy organs.

The equipment is particularly important in treating cervical cancer, where brachytherapy is a key component of curative treatment for many patients.

Depending on the type and stage of the disease, the technique may also be used to treat other cancers.

The new equipment is expected to strengthen NCRTH’s capacity to serve patients by reducing the need to travel to distant referral hospitals for specialised treatment and ease the financial and logistical burden associated with accessing cancer care.

The investment aligns with the World Health Organization’s (WHO) global efforts to eliminate cervical cancer as a public health problem through HPV vaccination, screening, early diagnosis and appropriate treatment.

WHO advocates for expanded access to quality cancer care, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, where limited access to screening and specialised treatment continues to contribute to preventable illness and deaths.

 Its global cervical cancer elimination strategy calls for countries to ensure that women diagnosed with invasive cervical cancer receive appropriate treatment and care.

The Ministry of Health (MOH) has prioritised cancer prevention, early detection, diagnosis, treatment and palliative care through national cancer control initiatives.

The ministry continues to work with county governments and other partners to strengthen cancer treatment facilities, improve access to specialised equipment and enhance referral systems.

These efforts are aimed at reducing disparities in access to cancer services and ensuring that patients can obtain appropriate treatment without unnecessary delays or the burden of travelling long distances.

The Nakuru County Government has been strengthening cancer prevention, screening, awareness and treatment services to improve early detection and access to care.

Through the Regional Cancer Centre at NCRTH and other public health facilities, the county provides cancer-related services, including screening, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and palliative care.

 It has also supported community awareness campaigns and screening outreach programmes aimed at encouraging residents to seek early diagnosis and treatment.

The county has further integrated cervical cancer screening into selected reproductive health services while supporting healthcare workers to improve screening and referral practices.

These interventions are intended to identify cancer at earlier stages, when treatment can be more effective and improve access to care for vulnerable populations.

The provision of the brachytherapy applicators is expected to complement these initiatives by strengthening specialised treatment capacity at NCRTH and improving access to essential oncology services for patients from Nakuru and the wider region.

 The supply was facilitated by the Ministry of Health following the identification of equipment needs by the hospital, with collaboration between the National and County Governments making the investment possible.

The investment supports ongoing efforts by the two levels of government to strengthen specialised healthcare services and bring essential cancer treatment closer to patients, in line with Nakuru County’s commitment to improving healthcare delivery.

by Caroline Nyakio and Jane Ngugi