This archive report was first published on 29 August 2019.
On Thursday, Machakos County Governor Alfred Mutua officially opened the Machakos Cancer Care and Research Centre, a facility that will offer free cancer treatment to residents of Machakos County registered under the Universal Health Coverage program.
According to Governor Mutua, the centre will provide cancer screening, diagnosis, counseling, chemotherapy treatment, and management free of charge to eligible residents. The facility will also be open to residents of other counties, with those from Makueni and Kitui being offered services at special rates.
Speaking during the opening ceremony at the Machakos Level 5 Referral hospital, Governor Mutua emphasized that cancer treatment should be accessible to all, regardless of their financial status. He stated, 'We want to ensure that cancer treatment is for all of us, not just a few. Treatment for cancer must not be a preserve for the rich in society. Every resident of Machakos, no matter how poor, will be entitled to equivalent treatment as the rich who own bungalows and top-of-the-range vehicles.'
The county government has invested Ksh.40 million in the project, with plans to allocate Ksh.300 million in the next budget for the purchase of additional equipment, including a radiotherapy machine. Governor Mutua also announced plans to establish several diagnostic and treatment centers across the county within the next three years.
