Kisumu:The National Assembly Departmental Committee on Health has approved Sh400 million to revitalize the stalled Cancer Centre at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH). The committee has also pledged an additional Sh172 million to ensure the completion of the building by December and dedicated Sh1.6 billion for equipping the facility.
According to Kenya News Agency, the acting Chief Executive Officer of JOOTRH, Dr. Joshua Clinton Okise, informed the committee that the cancer centre, which had been stalled for a decade, is now 85 per cent complete. The committee, led by Kilgoris MP Julius Sunkuli in the absence of Chairman Dr. James Nyikal, visited the hospital to evaluate the utilization of previously allocated funds by Parliament.
During the visit, Sunkuli emphasized the collaboration between the National Government and the National Assembly in reviving the facility, which was elevated to Level 6 status a year ago. He stated, “We are the ones who appropriate funds for these facilities and because of that we have the responsibility to oversight the works.”
Sunkuli further mentioned that the committee would advocate for additional funding in the supplementary budget to ensure the centre’s readiness by December. He highlighted that the centre would serve not only Kisumu but also the regions of Kisii, Western, and Narok County.
The committee noted the current oncology unit at JOOTRH is overburdened, with nearly 60 patients accommodated in a small room. Kisumu Central MP Joshua Odongo Oron remarked that the new centre would cater to the Lake Region Economic Bloc, comprising about 15 counties. “This is a much-welcomed unit,” Oron said, noting the need to relieve the overstretched facilities in Eldoret.
The committee also reviewed other projects, including the removal of asbestos from roofs, identified as a cancer risk factor. Dr. Okise mentioned that while Sh230 million had been previously appropriated for development projects, and Sh1.9 billion for transitioning staff to the national government, more funds are necessary to address staffing gaps.
Dr. Okise assured that the centre is 85 per cent complete and that parliamentarians have promised additional resources for equipping the centre and recruiting more staff. JOOTRH Board Chairman Dr. Lango Onudi confirmed that services are expected to improve significantly in the following months, thanks to commitments from Parliamentarians.
The construction of the Comprehensive Cancer Centre at JOOTRH aims to be completed by December 2026, following recent engagements for emergency funding. Data from JOOTRH’s Oncology Directorate revealed over 4,500 cancer cases tracked over ten years, with cervical cancer accounting for 64 per cent of diagnoses. The centre is set to directly serve 15 counties within the Lake Region Economic Bloc.
