Homa Bay County has launched a new oncology center, marking a major milestone in the county’s efforts to decentralise cancer treatment and improve access to specialised healthcare services.
Governor Gladys Wanga, who officially opened the Mama Phoebe Asiyo Oncology Centre at Homa Bay County Teaching and Referral Hospital, said the initiative was aimed at bringing cancer diagnosis and treatment services closer to residents and reducing the need for patients to travel outside the county.
She described the facility as a long-awaited answer to the prayers of many families who have struggled with the financial, emotional, and logistical burden of seeking cancer treatment outside the county.
“For too long, a cancer diagnosis has meant more than the burden of illness. For many families, it has also meant long and costly journeys outside the county in search of specialised care, separation from loved ones, loss of income, and, in many cases, the difficult emotional burden of navigating an unfamiliar health system,” Wanga said.
The oncology center was established through a partnership between the Homa Bay County Government and the East Africa Comprehensive Women Cancer Project, implemented by Aga Khan Hospital Kisumu with funding support from the French Development Agency (AFD), the Gates Foundation, and the Aga Khan Foundation.
The governor said the facility will significantly reduce referrals to hospitals outside Homa Bay, noting that the county currently sends between 15 and 20 cancer patients every week to specialized treatment centers in other regions.
Initially, the centre will provide chemotherapy and other oncology services, with plans already underway to progressively introduce additional specialized services.
“We are starting with chemotherapy, but this is only the beginning. Our goal is to build a comprehensive cancer treatment centre where residents can access all essential oncology services without leaving Homa Bay,” Wanga said.
The county’s long-term goal is to establish a comprehensive cancer treatment center capable of providing services including radiotherapy and other cancer treatment services.
The governor assured residents that the quality of care provided at the centre would meet the same standards offered at major referral facilities outside Homa Bay.
She challenged the medical team to ensure every patient who visits the centre receives the treatment, counselling, encouragement, and support they require.
“We believe in you. We believe in your commitment, in your conviction that no person who comes to this facility will leave without getting the help needed,” Wanga said.
The launch was particularly significant for Wanga, who disclosed that she was diagnosed with cancer about 12 years ago.
She said her experience had made the fight against cancer deeply personal and influenced her determination to improve access to cancer services in Homa Bay.
The governor added that through her experience, the resolve to ensure that residents would not have to travel long distances to access cancer treatment was strengthened.
Wanga said the county’s cancer strategy would not focus solely on treatment but would also emphasize prevention, screening, and early detection.
The governor also praised cancer survivors who shared their testimonies during the event, including patients who endured years of travel for treatment before recovering.
Beyond treatment, Wanga emphasised the importance of prevention and early detection.
She said more than 23,000 women in Homa Bay have been screened for cervical and breast cancer through the programme, while 24,961 girls have received the HPV vaccine to protect them against infection by human papillomavirus, a major cause of cervical cancer.
Those who needed further assessment were referred through the health system.
She urged residents to embrace screening and early healthcare-seeking behaviour, saying early detection offers a better chance of successful intervention.
To support patients beyond medical treatment, the county also presented Sh400,000 to the Homa Bay Cancer Support Community-Based Organisation to establish income-generating activities for cancer survivors and affected families.
The governor noted that the support would help members cope with some of the economic challenges associated with cancer diagnosis and long-term treatment.
Wanga encouraged the organisation to expand its reach and support more patients as the new oncology centre attracts additional beneficiaries.
She also announced that pharmacy staff, nurses, and clinical officers from Homa Bay would undergo specialized clinical mentorship at Aga Khan Hospital to strengthen their capacity to provide quality oncology services.
The training, she said, would complement investment in the new facility and ensure that patients receive care from adequately skilled healthcare professionals.
Wanga commended development partners and health professionals involved in the project, saying the center demonstrates what can be achieved when governments, healthcare institutions, and development agencies work together to improve lives.
The county boss said the centre would ultimately be judged not by the size of its building but by the lives it saves.
“The true value of the Phoebe Asiyo Oncology Centre will be measured in the mother who no longer has to travel hundreds of kilometres to access care, by families who spared the financial and emotional burden of repeated referrals outside the county, and by patients whose cancer is detected early enough for timely intervention,” she said.
By Sitna Omar
