In a move to reassure the public about the government’s commitment to providing healthcare services to the people at their own regions and not making them travel to Nairobi for specialized healthcare services, Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale visited prominent public healthcare facilities in Mombasa County on Thursday.
Among the healthcare facilities visited was the Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital and the Regional Cancer Treatment Centre, which serves the whole of Mombasa County. CS Aden Duale’s main goal was to ensure that the people of the Coast do not have to travel for long to seek healthcare services.
In his tour at the Regional Cancer Treatment Centre, CS Aden visited the Comprehensive Cancer Centre, the centre has a radiotherapy machine that has greatly reduced the workload in hospitals in Nairobi as patients from Mombasa County can access such healthcare services at the Regional Cancer Treatment Centre.
This has not only saved the patients a lot of time but also money, as this project, which was a joint venture between the National Government and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), serves about 75 patients every day. This project is also one of a kind, as there are only three such facilities in the country. CS Aden said this was a clear indication of the government’s commitment to providing healthcare services at people’s own regions and not making them travel long distances to seek healthcare services.
Another area was that of maternal and child health. The CS recognized progress in reducing deaths among pregnant women and newborns. The EWENE Programme had also initiated a Rapid Results Initiative to improve services for expectant women.
He also talked about the importance of health workers and how the government was working with the counties to train, deploy, and retain staff. He also talked about how a strong team of oncologists was needed to improve services in the fight against cancer.
On technology, Duale pointed to the growing use of digital systems in managing health services. He cited the Digital Health Authority as a key tool in planning and tracking services, including data from the National Cancer Registry.
He also addressed healthcare financing reforms under the Social Health Authority (SHA). According to the CS, more than 29 million Kenyans have registered, with households now able to access improved cancer treatment cover of up to Sh800,000.
Wrapping up his visit, Duale urged Kenyans to seek regular cancer screening and adopt preventive measures. He encouraged parents to ensure girls aged 10 to 14 receive the HPV vaccine, explaining that prevention remains one of the strongest tools in the fight against cancer.
The CS said the government remains focused on building a better health system that serves people where they live and responds to their real needs.