Homa Bay Partners with Aga Khan Hospital to Establish Cancer Care Centre
Homa Bay Partners with Aga Khan Hospital to Establish Cancer Care CentreThe County Government of Homa Bay has signed a landmark agreement with Aga Khan Hospital to establish a cancer care centre, aiming to ease the burden of cancer treatment for local residents.
Governor Gladys Wanga, who witnessed the signing at the county headquarters in Homa Bay town, said the centre would address the growing number of cancer cases in the region. She noted that patients had been forced to travel to other counties for treatment, increasing the financial and emotional strain on families.
“The establishment of a cancer care centre will be a great milestone for our people. It will significantly cut the cost of managing the disease and improve access to quality care,” said Governor Wanga.
She added that the facility, to be located at the Homa Bay County Teaching and Referral Hospital, would be one of the key legacies of her administration.Governor Wanga emphasized the importance of preventive measures alongside treatment efforts.
“We will put our best foot forward in ensuring we prevent the disease from ravaging our people because prevention is better than cure,” she said.
The centre will be part of the East Africa Comprehensive Cancer Project (EA-CCP), funded by Agence Française de Développement (AFD) and the Gates Foundation over a four-year period.Aga Khan Hospital in Kisumu Chief Executive Officer Jane Wanyama said the EA-CCP initiative is scheduled to open in March 2029.
It will benefit nearly 89,000 women already screened for breast and cervical cancer and provide Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccinations to 1.2 million nine-year-old girls to help prevent cervical cancer.
“We are working closely with the Homa Bay County Government to train health workers in cancer treatment and management,” Wanyama said, adding that public awareness campaigns will be intensified to encourage open discussions about the disease.
It is estimated that the awareness initiatives will directly reach over 1.8 million people across the Lake Region Economic Bloc.
“Tackling cancer requires a multifaceted approach focusing on awareness, early screening, and community engagement,” Wanyama noted.
