Breakdown of
cancer machines at KNH should be a wakeup call to invest more in cancer
facilities
The breakdown of the only two radiotherapy
machines at the Kenyatta National Hospital since last Monday should a wakeup
call for the government to invest more in the health sector especially in the
cancer care.
Cancer
patients are already anxious since it may take a month to repair the machines.
Health is a matter of life and death and the earlier the problem is addressed
the better. According to the KNH spokesperson Simon Ithae the machines broke
down due to power surge. The couch where the patients lie as they are being
treated also tilted and had to be taken for panel beating.
The
above hitches need to be minimized since the can potentially cause disasters. For
example, a tilted radiotherapy couch can expose the cancer patient to have
another part of the body be directed to radioactive rays as opposed to the
malignant organ.
PROCUREMENT
BUREAUCRACY
The
government should also address bureaucracy in procurement of health equipment
too. This will shorten the period of buying the damaged materials in case of an
emergency. Currently, it will take KNH a month to import the damaged parts at a
cost of KSh. 250,000.
Prompt
response to emergency cases like the one of cancer machines will ensure that
there is no backlog of cancer cases and eventually save needless loss of lives.
PUBLIC PRIVATE
PARTNERSHIP
It
is noteworthy to discover that KNH has partnered with private hospitals which
are better equipped in order to avail health services at a cheaper rate. The government
has also leased cancer equipped to stem the disease. But this is not enough
since the country’s and region’s largest referral hospital lacks and borrows
basic facilities.
The
two machines could have been overwhelmed since before they stalled they were
handling over 150 patients which are more than thrice the recommended capacity-
another reason to invest in cancer care.
MUSYOKA NGUI,
Kitui
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