Cancer patients in Kwale County can now breathe a sigh of relief following the official opening of a new 20-bed capacity oncology centre.

The facility, located at the Kwale Hospital, is expected to significantly reduce the distance patients previously had to travel to access cancer care, which often required trips to distant counties.

The centre, which was launched as part of a G7 empowerment tour last week, is a fully equipped facility with specialists trained to screen and diagnose a range of cancers.

It received its operational certificate from the national government, marking a significant step towards improving healthcare services in the region.

Kwale Governor Fatuma Achani, speaking at the launch, said the new centre will play a crucial role in easing the cancer treatment burden on residents.

“We are putting efforts to ensure our people get quality health services.Cancer treatment has been a heavy financial and emotional burden on many families in this region. With this centre, we hope to bring services closer to them, and with better equipment and specialists, we can offer timely care,” Governor Achani stated.

The new facility is the first of its kind in Kwale County and the second in the entire Coastal region.

Residents have previously had to travel long distances to Mombasa or Nairobi county for diagnosis and treatment, often at great personal and financial cost.

The health challenges posed by cancer have long been a source of concern in the region.

According to recent statistics, many patients from Kwale had been forced to seek treatment outside the county, incurring huge costs in transport, accommodation, and medical bills.

With the new oncology centre, local patients can now access early screening and treatment in their own county.

In her address, Health Cabinet Secretary (CS) Deborah Barasa emphasized the importance of early cancer detection through regular screening.

“Screening enables cancer to be detected earlier, allowing for timely treatment, which can save lives,” Dr Barasa said.

She encouraged the residents of Kwale to take advantage of the services offered at the new centre and to undergo regular cancer screenings.

The CS also highlighted the challenges that many families face when it comes to affording cancer treatment.

“The cost of cancer treatment is high. In many cases, families have been forced to sell land or use up all their savings just to afford the care. This has left many families financially crippled,” she said.

To alleviate these financial challenges, CS Barasa urged residents to register for the newly launched health insurance scheme, SHA (Social  Health Authority), which aims to provide affordable and accessible health care to vulnerable communities.

"With SHA, people can access essential health services, including cancer care, at a fraction of the cost. It is crucial that everyone registers to benefit from this service," she added.

For local residents like 52-year-old Abdul Haji, the opening of the oncology centre is a game-changer.

Mr Haji, who revealed has a family member currently undergoing cancer treatment, said the facility will reduce the strain that many families face when seeking care.

"I had to travel to Mombasa for my relative's treatment, which was expensive and tiring. Now, with this new centre, we won't have to go far. It gives us hope and peace of mind," he said.

Kwale residents have long awaited such a facility.

Many have been forced to rely on community fundraisers to pay for cancer treatment or endure the long wait for specialised services from private or public hospitals in neighbouring towns.

The launch of the centre comes at a time when the county is grappling with an increasing number of cancer cases, the patients are often diagnosed at later stages.

Apart from oncology centre, the county is also constructing an ICU and Renal unit at Kinango hospital which is 70 percent completed.