Plans to establish a cancer centre at Kisii Teaching and Referral Hospital by the county government yesterday received a boost after the national government and a donor agreed to jointly fund it.
The project will be jointly funded by the Arab Bank for Economic Development (BADEA) and the national government, with each giving a Sh1 billion.
More than 10 million people would benefit from the facility once it is completed, according to Governor James Ongwae.
Yesterday, Mr Ongwae and Treasury cabinet secretary Henry Rotich witnessed the landmark signing for the funds in Nairobi.
An additional Sh2.5 billion which will be required to finish the project will be given by the Treasury.
The money was given on a concessional basis which attracts one per cent interest with a grace period of 10 years and a loan period of 30 years.
Mr Rotich lauded the Kisii County Government for the cancer centre initiative which he said will take some burden off the back of other referral hospitals in the country.
“The establishment of the cancer centre in Kisii County will boost early detection of the disease and reduce the cost incurred by patients who have to travel to Kenyatta National Hospital and even abroad for the service," he said.
Governor Ongwae said his government will continue to reach out to similar donor agencies with a view to improving the economy
“The cancer centre is a unique project which will bring specialised services closer to the people.
More than Sh10 million people in the region will benefit from the centre,” he said, adding that the project was part of the wider efforts he was undertaking to transform the health sector.
‘‘We will fast track the implementation of this project as one of the many of my flagship projects during my tenure,” he said