Homa Bay County partners with Aga Khan Hospital to unveil cancer center

The Homa Bay County Government has signed a partnership with Aga Khan Hospital to establish a cancer care center at the Homa Bay County Teaching and Referral Hospital.

Governor Gladys Wanga said the center will ease the burden on cancer patients who currently travel long distances for treatment, significantly reducing care costs.

She described the project as a major legacy for her administration and called for support from all stakeholders.

"We are committed to prevention and early intervention because they remain our best defenses against cancer," she said.

The facility will be developed under the East Africa Comprehensive Cancer Project (EA-CCP), funded by the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) and the Gates Foundation over four years.

Aga Khan Hospital Kisumu CEO Jane Wanyama said the initiative will benefit nearly 89,000 women already screened for breast and cervical cancers, and facilitate HPV vaccinations for about 1.2 million nine-year-old girls.

Wanyama noted that the project will include training health workers, enhancing cancer awareness, and promoting early screening. Awareness campaigns are expected to reach over 1.8 million people across the Lake Region Economic Bloc.

The center is scheduled to be operational by March 2029.