Kenya, IAEA Commission Mombasa Radiotherapy Centre to Expand Cancer Care Access
Mombasa, Kenya - - Health Cabinet Secretary Hon. Aden Duale and Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Mariano Grossi, officially commissioned and handed over the Mombasa Radiotherapy Centre at Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital, marking a major milestone in strengthening cancer treatment services in the Coastal region.
The state-of-the-art facility, equipped with a modern Linear Accelerator (LINAC) through support from the IAEA, is expected to double the hospital’s radiotherapy treatment capacity from 70 to 140 patients daily, significantly improving access to life-saving oncology services.
The commissioning marks a major step in Kenya’s ongoing efforts to decentralise specialised healthcare services and strengthen regional referral hospitals under the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) agenda.
The new centre is expected to reduce treatment waiting times, ease congestion at national referral facilities, and lessen the financial and logistical burden faced by patients travelling long distances to access cancer treatment in Nairobi.
Speaking during the event, the leaders reaffirmed the strong partnership between Kenya and the IAEA in advancing cancer care through investment in advanced medical technologies, workforce capacity building, and expansion of regional oncology infrastructure.
The Government reiterated its commitment to strengthening cancer prevention, early diagnosis, and timely treatment as part of broader efforts to improve equitable access to quality healthcare services across the country.
The event was hosted by Abdulswamad Sharif Nassir in his capacity as Chairperson of the Council of Governors Health Committee and brought together Principal Secretary for Medical Services Dr. Ouma Oluga, Principal Secretary Prof. Shaukat Abdulrazak, and representatives from the Kenya National Cancer Institute, reflecting a coordinated national effort to strengthen cancer care delivery in Kenya.