Nsambya hospital to use modern radiotherapy to treat cancer

Nsambya hospital will be using the latest radio therapy technology once the radiotherapy bankers under construction are completed; thanks to funds and donations from the annual Rotary Cancer Run, under the flagship of Centenary Bank.

Dr. Andrew Sekitooleko the Managing Director of   St. Francis hospital Nsambya reveals that over the years, the hospital has built capacity to treat all types of Cancer with Onco surgeon,  Oncho Gynaes.

The hospital also takes pride in a functional cancer chemotherapy unit, as well as palliative care for the terminally ill through the partnership with Rotary and Centenary Bank.   

“The missing link was then radio therapy.Radiotherapy helps to ease the pain for those who are terminal, but also it helps to cure some cancers, that if caught early can be treatable” Dr. Sekitooleko revealed. 

He made the remarks during the launch of the 2022 Cancer Run at the hospital in Kampala.

The construction of the basement and first floor of the cancer radiotherapy bankers at Nsambya hospital is in progress.

At the site at Nsambya hospital the foundation has been dug and pillars being fixed for the construction of the radio therapy bankers that will make part of the biggest cancer unit in Uganda.  

“Radiotherapy can be a hazard as you many times know if it is old. So the technology we are introducing is radiotherapy that is modern that does little harm. And that’s why it’s a pleasure for us to stand here, that the work has started for the construction of the bankers”

He explained that they are planning for advance training of staff who will be running the unit.

“With the partners that have been introduced to us by Rotary, we have already started the discussions for training the staff, to run this unit, because this is one device that must run accurately because if it misses, it’s like laser sharp, so if the equipment is off we’ll be causing more harm than good, and that requires advance training” he averred.

He applauded participants in the cancer run for whose contribution has made it possible for the project to kick off.

“The only thing we’ve offered is ground but every penny has come from the runners and want us to give a round of applause to everybody that has taken a step, I know there are runners, walkers, in the group and cheerleaders, all of you are important to this process because every penny counts”

Fabian Kassi, the managing director of Centenary Bank the main sponsors of the run, announced a commitment of 150 million shillings into the run.

“The war waged on cancer in the country needs to be strengthened, the treatment centres and the bankers to be built at Nsambya hospital is in our view a step in the right direction, but nevertheless  still a drop in the ocean. We need more forces along this journey” said Kassi.

To him the annual rotary cancer run should be a reminder to every Ugandan “that the minute we join forces in battle against cancer in Uganda we can achieve so much more”

Over the years, Centenary Bank has injected close to two [2] billion shillings in this cause and they are not about to stop according to the MD.

The Cancer run Vision bearer Sam Mwanje revealed that this cancer centre will be ready by 2025.

“We know that in three years, with all your support this is going to be a reality”.

The event will be flagged off by Rotary International President; the first female president Jennifer Jones, on 4^th September 2022.

“So this run is special, please let us join this fight, because if we can’t fight off cancer to finish it , cancer is going to finish us” he concluded.

According to statics from the World Health Organisation,  in Uganda over 34000 cancer cases were registered in the year 2020, while 23000 deaths due to cancer were recorded.  The number of prevalent cancer cases in the last five years stood at 62 548.