JOOTRH to strengthen cancer care with new support

Chris Mahandara-KNA

Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) will benefit from enhanced training, equipment, and awareness initiatives in cancer management in a new collaboration with the Oncology Nursing Society–Kenya (ONS-K).

A delegation from the society, comprising Florence Kandie, Pamela Were, and Godwin Mango, paid a courtesy call on the hospital’s Acting Chief Executive Officer, Joshua Okise, to outline areas of partnership aimed at strengthening the oncology unit.

As part of the support package, the society pledged to donate two chemotherapy chairs to ease service delivery at the hospital’s cancer clinic.

They will also conduct a Continuing Medical Education (CME) session for oncology and palliative care nurses to build staff capacity in managing the rising number of patients.

The society further unveiled plans for a cancer awareness walk where JOOTRH staff, students from the Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC), and teams from surrounding district hospitals will march from the Kisumu Huduma Centre to the referral facility.

The Kenya Hospice and Palliative Care Association (KHPC) is also expected to participate in the event, which will include Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities to promote community awareness on available cancer services.

JOOTRH Acting CEO Joshua Okise welcomed the initiative, saying it would ease the burden on the facility, which serves patients from all 14 counties in the Lake region.

“At JOOTRH we are doing our best for oncology patients, ensuring they access medications and specialized care. Collaborations such as this will go a long way in building the capacity of our staff and improving outcomes for our patients,” he said.

The move comes as Kisumu prepares to host the annual Oncology Nursing Society of Kenya (ONS-K) conference from September 17 to 19.

The three-day meeting will bring together oncology experts, nurses, researchers, and policymakers to deliberate on ways of advancing cancer nursing and improving treatment outcomes.

According to the Ministry of Health, cancer remains the third leading cause of death in Kenya after infectious and cardiovascular diseases.

National estimates show that 47,887 new cancer cases are reported annually, with 32,500 patients succumbing to the disease.

In the Western region, health officials have flagged a worrying rise in breast, cervical, and prostate cancers, underscoring the need for improved screening, diagnosis, and treatment.

Health experts say the Kisumu conference will provide a timely platform to share best practices, new research, and innovations in oncology nursing, while partnerships with institutions such as JOOTRH are expected to strengthen service delivery for communities hardest hit by the disease.