JOOTRH partners with Nairobi hospital to reduce cancer treatment delays in Western Kenya

Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) has signed a two-year collaboration with The Nairobi Hospital to expand access to affordable radiotherapy for cancer patients in western Kenya.

The agreement, formalised through a Memorandum of Collaboration by JOOTRH CEO Dr Joshua Clinton Okise and Head of Oncology Dr Fiona Adagi, in the presence of Mariella Awuor, aims to tackle long-standing delays faced by patients requiring radiotherapy, a critical component of cancer treatment.

Currently, JOOTRH provides chemotherapy, cancer screening and palliative care, but the absence of a radiotherapy unit has forced residents to travel to national hospitals such as Kenyatta National Hospital and Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital.

Congestion at these facilities often led to prolonged waiting periods, putting patients at risk of disease progression, worsening complications and increased anxiety for families.

Under the new arrangement, JOOTRH patients will be referred to The Nairobi Hospital, where treatment is expected to begin within a week, reducing delays and uncertainty for patients and their families.

A co-payment framework further eases the financial burden, making the service more accessible to low- and middle-income residents who previously struggled with travel and treatment costs.

Dr Okise said the partnership prioritises patients, bridging critical service gaps while reducing the logistical and emotional stress that comes with long-distance referrals.

“This initiative ensures residents of western Kenya no longer have to wait weeks or months for life-saving treatment,” he said.

JOOTRH Head of Oncology Adagi said timely access to radiotherapy can significantly improve treatment outcomes, especially for patients with cervical, breast, oesophageal, prostate and colorectal cancers—the most commonly diagnosed cancers at the facility.

Between 2012 and 2025, JOOTRH reported 4,525 new cancer cases, with women accounting for 54 per cent of patients.

The collaboration also serves as an interim solution as JOOTRH works towards establishing a fully equipped cancer treatment centre of its own, bringing hope and reassurance to thousands of patients and their families across the region.