Kenya: Boost for healthcare reforms as centre of excellence for cancer research is launched at KUTRRH

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The ongoing reforms within the health sector received a boost following the launch of a Centre of Excellence for Cancer Research and Training at the Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral and Research Hospital.

The initiative, a collaboration between Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral & Research Hospital, the University of Manchester and The Christie Foundation seeks to uplift the standard of healthcare in Kenya, through research, workforce training and education of healthcare professionals, initially focusing on improving cancer outcomes through early detection, rapid diagnosis and the delivery of high quality care. The Center will house a next generation sequencing machine for research on genomics to better understand cancer incidences in Kenya and the Region.

Speaking during the launch, KUTRRH board chair Professor Olive Mugenda said the centre is key in ongoing efforts to comprehensively deal with the cancer menace as research findings will help better understand the types of cancers prevalent in Kenya and the Region and how best to manage the disease.

Speaking at the same event, Professor Lord Graham, Vice President and Dean of the Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health at the University of Manchester said the University of Manchester and The Christie Foundation will support capacity building especially for clinical services and PET/CT.

The launch was graced by representatives of the Ministry of Health, representatives of the British High Commission, Members of the KUTRRH Board of Directors, Members of the Hospital Management and medical practitioners and representatives from the University of Manchester and The Christie Foundation.

The team also launched a Centre of Excellence for Healthcare Education Training at the Kisii University which is meant to serve the entire East African region.  Further, the alliance aims at promoting the exchange of health workforce between Kenya and the United Kingdom.

Meanwhile, KUTRRH has benefitted from a 446 million shillings NIHR Esophageal Cancer Research grant from the University of Manchester and The Christie Foundation. The grant will be used to study Esophageal cancer, establish the cancer spread in the country, its causes and best treatment and improved outcomes.

Kenya and the United Kingdom had in July last year signed two key agreements in the health sector in July last year.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Health, Kenya.