The National Cancer Institute (NCI), a body mandated to oversee cancer and related issues has outlined the difficulties it undergoes in executing its mandate.
NCI through a report to Parliament's Health Committee revealed that the Sh14 million grant money set aside for them doesn't come to their account directly. Instead, it goes through another department in the Ministry of Health.
“Inaugural board was not in control of the allocated funds as they were channelled through a department within the ministry,” reads the July 25, 2019 report.
Health Cabinet Secretary Sicily Kariuki through a gazette notice formed in May 2019, this body to help combat cancer.
NCI is yet to be allocated any staff since its formation three years. Interestingly, it has had only one staff (Acting Chief Executive Officer Dr Alfred Karagu) ever since it was set up.
It has no offices/building or a vehicle to carry out its mandate.
“Available funds are not able to mount any nation-wide awareness or screening programs, recruit staff for the institute, fund research, support proper data collection efforts etc," adds the report.
The report further indicates that the body has only six technical staff and two support staff.
The institute has been criticised in the past for not showing any signs of combating the disease.