Heart and Cancer Centre AKUH - East Africa

Any Institutional activities in the world
Post Reply
Admin
Posts: 6687
Joined: Mon Jan 06, 2003 10:37 am
Contact:

AKUH will provide free cancer therapy to 400 patients

Post by Admin »

http://www.ntv.co.ug/news/health/07/jul ... ents-13279

Government signs MoU with Aga Khan hospital to treat 400 cancer patients

Uganda’s only Cobalt 60 radiotherapy machine installed at Mulago hospital broke down in April leaving cancer patients without access to radiotherapy treatment.

NTV

7 July 2016

Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi (AKUHN) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Uganda Cancer Institute to provide free radiotherapy treatment for 400 cancer patients.

This matter first came up in April when Uganda’s only Cobalt 60 radiotherapy machine installed at Mulago hospital broke down, leaving many patients who need radiotherapy treatment, in despair.

The MOU was as a result of discussions between the two institutions to formalize this arrangement that had been announced by the then state minister for health Dr. Chris Baryomunsi.
Admin
Posts: 6687
Joined: Mon Jan 06, 2003 10:37 am
Contact:

Post by Admin »

http://ugandaradionetwork.com/story/aga ... next-month

Govt, Aga Khan Hospital Sign Cancer Treatment MOU

7 Jul 2016, 17:46

In short

Shawn Bolouki, the Chief Executive Officer of Aga Khan University Hospital said that the radiotherapy treatment will be paid for through the hospitals - Patient Welfare Programme, funded by the hospital and augmented by individual and corporate donors. The programme provides subsidized medical care to needy patients.

Read more: http://ugandaradionetwork.com/story/aga ... z4Dsmwnrjz
kmaherali
Posts: 25107
Joined: Thu Mar 27, 2003 3:01 pm

Post by kmaherali »

This new health partnership in Uganda may be on the verge of changing the lives of cancer patients for good

For 400 cancer patients in Uganda, another chance at living a long life may be just around the corner, following the efforts made by the Aga Khan University Hospital to formalise free radiotherapy treatment for them. Yesterday, the hospital which is based in Nairobi, Kenya signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ugandan Ministry of Health allowing them to commence the free treatment of cancer patients, while the Ugandan government works on replacing its broken down – and only – radiotherapy machine. The patients will be travelling to the hospital in Kenya in batches of 20 individuals.

Every year in Uganda, around 3,000 people need radiotherapy treatment, and this exceeds the ability of the country’s cancer institute to treat them adequately. These patients usually have to rely on the option of travelling overseas to access the level of specialised healthcare that they require, and most cannot afford to. Thus, to support such individuals, the Aga Khan hospital is entering into partnerships such as the present one with the Uganda Cancer Institute (UCI) to help reduce their health and financial burdens.

The UCI, which is committed to researching and treating cancer in Uganda, has been plagued with infrastructural challenges that hamper its effectiveness. This includes equipment that are inadequate and obsolete, unavailability of funds, lack of drugs and poor staffing. Therefore, the current partnership with the Aga Khan Development Network will assist in boosting the confidence and capability of the institute.

For now, approved cancer patients with tumours and significant chances of surviving their ordeal will be provided with road transportation to Nairobi. The Uganda High Commission will provide the patients with accommodation in Nairobi, along with other forms of support that they would require. In the long run, however, plans are being made to establish the Aga Khan hospital in Kampala, and Ugandan cancer patients would soon be able to access specialised healthcare in their home country.

The Aga Khan hospital made their intentions to support the Ugandan Ministry of Health known in April when the only radiotherapy machine in the country malfunctioned. The signing of the MoU took place yesterday in a ceremony at the headquarters of the Ministry of Health in Kampala, and was signed in the presence of representatives of the ministry and the Aga Khan Development Network.

http://venturesafrica.com/this-new-heal ... -for-good/
Admin
Posts: 6687
Joined: Mon Jan 06, 2003 10:37 am
Contact:

Post by Admin »

http://www.busiweek.com/index1.php?Ctp= ... =454&cI=10

East African Business Week

News

Tuesday, July 19, 2016

Thank you Aga Khan

Editor,

The world does not only operate via commercial enterprises and this has been amply proved by the Aga Khan University Hospital Nairobi.

Their gesture, offering free radiotherapy treatment to over 400 Ugandan cancer patients, even if it were though an MOU with Uganda’s cancer institute, is very commendable and I would wish to suggest that other companies and organizations follow suit.

Not only does this give hope to patients, it also shows that there is a lot of positives in regional cooperation.

Thank you Aga Khan Hospital.

James Opit

Kampala, Uganda

By James Opit, Tuesday, July 19th, 2016
Admin
Posts: 6687
Joined: Mon Jan 06, 2003 10:37 am
Contact:

Post by Admin »

http://allafrica.com/stories/201607210045.html

The Monitor - 21 July 2016

Uganda: Two Cancer Patients Return From Aga Khan Hospital

By Shiffa Kulanyi

Kampala — The patients, Mary Birungi and Mary Gahoire, from Mbarara and Hoima districts respectively, were the first in a group of seven that Hospice Africa took to the Aga Khan hospital for treatment.

Uganda's only radiotherapy machine broke down in early April, leaving about 2,000 patients stranded. Hospice is a charity that cares for terminally-ill patients.

Ms Miriam Donohoe, the charity's communications and advocacy consultant, said the patients that Hospice sends to Kenya are funded under the Road to Care programme, which was initiated by Canadian doctor Joda Kuk in 2011.

"He observed the enormous needs of women with cervical cancer in rural settings during a visit to Hospice Africa Uganda," said Ms Donohoe.

"After Uganda's only radiotherapy machine collapsed, it was agreed to use the programme to send Hospice patients to Nairobi for treatment," she added.

The two patients spent a total of 10 weeks in Nairobi.
Admin
Posts: 6687
Joined: Mon Jan 06, 2003 10:37 am
Contact:

Post by Admin »

http://www.coastweek.com/4124-culture-02.htm

Saturday, 16 June 2018

First Cardiology Fellowship Programme Introduced
In The Region At Aga Khan University Hospital


Coastweek-- The number of heart specialist doctors in Kenya and the region is set to increase and ultimately improve care for patients suffering from heart diseases thanks to a Cardiology Training Fellowship Programme started by Aga Khan University Hospital to train qualified physicians in the specialty.

The University Hospital is currently the only one offering a structured curriculum-based programme in cardiology in the region.

To be admitted to this highly competitive and intense programme, candidates should possess a Master of Medicine degree or an equivalent Royal College of Physicians degree.

The training entails multiple rotations in five core areas of practice including inpatient rotations, outpatient rotations, imaging rotations, cardiac catheterization laboratory and completion of a research project before completion of the programme.

“For the first time in Kenya, we are now able to train cardiologists to conduct complex procedures in heart medicine including implantation of heart devices and procedures related to haemodynamics (blood pressure evaluation in heart chambers) monitoring in very sick patients.

Physicians interested in pursuing a cardiology specialisation don’t have to leave the country as they have a capable and equivalent facility locally.”

“Training is hands-on with a dedicated team of consultant cardiologists who are widely involved in research to improve existing care models and innovations in methods of care delivery.

“Fellows are trained on how to conduct and interpret different cardiology imaging modalities including echocardiography, cardiac MRI, cardiac CT scan and nuclear imaging to make diagnosis”, says Dr Mzee Ngunga, Director, Cardiology Fellowship Programme and Consultant Interventional Cardiologist at Aga Khan University Hospital.

The three year training programme curriculum is tailored for Africa with a bit of borrowing from North America particularly on fellow evaluation and assessment.

Currently three fellows are undergoing the programme with a fourth one expected to join in mid 2018.

“This is the first recognised fellowship programme in cardiology in the region and its uniqueness stems from the fact that our fellows undergo a structured and curriculum-based programme that models them into a well rounded cardiologist that can deliver care to patients in a dynamic and challenging environment in Africa”, says Dr Mohamed Jeilan, Director, Cardiology Services at the hospital.

According to Dr Ngunga, currently with a population of 48 million, Kenya has only about 40 cardiologists, most of whom practice in Nairobi and the other few in Kisumu and Mombasa which unfortunately leaves the rest of the population with long distances to travel to access care.

This means every cardiologist attends to 1.2 million Kenyans, a dire deficit the fellowship programme is aiming to address.

Cardiovascular disease including heart disease and stroke, is the world’s number one killer.

Each year, it’s responsible for 17.5 million deaths and by 2030 this is expected to rise to 23 million.

In Africa, the latest projections suggest that by 2030 more people will die from cardiovascular disease than from any other cause of death.

The rate of progression in this condition is both remarkable and alarming.

The fact that Kenyans in their twenties and thirties are now experiencing heart attacks means we can no longer afford to ignore the growing risk of heart disease and need to have adequate and capable cardiac personnel to handle the challenges ahead.

Kenya now joins other few African countries offering the programme like Egypt, South Africa and The Sudan.
Admin
Posts: 6687
Joined: Mon Jan 06, 2003 10:37 am
Contact:

Post by Admin »

https://www.nation.co.ke/news/Aga-Khan- ... index.html


Aga Khan hospital gets new cancer machine


Thursday October 25 2018

Aga Khan University Hospital

By AGGREY OMBOKI
More by this Author

Cancer patients in the country can breathe a sigh of relief after the installation of a new cancer machine in Aga Khan University Hospital.

The hospital has acquired an ultra-modern Positron Emission Tomography (PET) CT scanner and Cyclotron from GE Healthcare.

The PET CT machine is a molecular imaging system that gives an accurate indication of the progress of cancer in its earliest stages.

With this technology, clinicians can confidently assess a patient’s response to cancer treatment, reducing time spent on unnecessary procedures and cost of treatment.

The acquisition of the equipment is part of an ambitious cancer therapy and management project that has been set up at the facility valued at S658.2 million.

“Through the acquisition of this specialised system, AKUH has reaffirmed its premier status as the leading provider of quality clinical care, teaching and research in sub-Saharan Africa. No longer will people need to leave the region in order to benefit from its life-saving diagnostic capabilities,” a statement by the hospital sent to newsrooms read.

Patients in need of specialised location of cancer in their bodies and determination of the disease stage have in the past been flying out to countries, notably India, for the procedure.

It is expected that the arrival of the technology at AKUH will ease the process of seeking specialised cancer treatment for cancer patients in in the country

According to the World Health Organisation, cancer is now the second leading cause of death globally, with 70 per cent of death occurring in low and middle income countries.

AKU chief executive Dr Shawn Bolouki said about 70 per cent of patients do not respond to their initial chemotherapy. This means only 3 in every 10 patients will get favourable outcomes from their initial chemotherapy sessions.

Dr Bolouki said AKU is committed to health professional education.

“We are committed to providing quality education to all cadres of the medical profession, from students in medicine, nursing and other health science professions and to the continuing education of health professionals in practice, supporting the building of health expertise in the region,” he said.

The equipment will be officially launched by First Lady Margaret Kenyatta on Friday.
Admin
Posts: 6687
Joined: Mon Jan 06, 2003 10:37 am
Contact:

Post by Admin »

https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/busines ... -on-cancer

Technology has central role in fight on cancer

Andrew Waititu
23rd Dec 2018

For many Kenyans, the mention of cancer still carries a shroud of fear and uncertainty. For a varying set of reasons, the prevailing culture among the population is that of engaging healthcare on a reactive than proactive basis. This means that the detection and consequent management begins when the cancer is at an advanced stage, which often causes more suffering than relief to patients.

The awareness of early signs and symptoms for most cancerous cases is essential in order to facilitate diagnosis and treatment at an early stage. A positive diagnosis for cancer need not be synonymous with a death sentence.

Sadly, majority of the deaths due to cancer in Kenya are because of ignorance about risk factors for the illness, the importance of a healthy lifestyle, preventative care and the absence of a steady continuum of care around oncology.

There are approximately 4,465 new breast cancer cases and 1,969 deaths annually; and approximately 4,800 new cervical cancer cases - and sadly over 50 per cent deaths annually.

The increasing cancer burden in Kenya has prompted the government to outline significant intended investments in cancer care and treatment in the country. According to the National Cancer Control Strategy 2017- 2022, basic cancer treatment facilities will be available in 47 counties.

This includes the proposed establishment of four comprehensive regional cancer treatment centres in Mombasa, Nakuru, Nyeri and Kisii for Sh8 billion in a five-year period.

With an understanding of the challenges in the country’s oncology treatment system, a collaborative approach involving a diverse range of stakeholders in the public, private, non-profit and academia sectors is required and is the most effective approach to solving the challenges at hand.

Adoption of relevant technologies in cancer care has also seen many countries make great strides in fighting the disease. Recently, Aga Khan University Hospital unveiled the first advanced early detection PET CT and Cyclotron in Sub-Saharan Africa. The technology provided by General Electric Healthcare gives an accurate indication of the progress of the disease at its earliest stages.

This means Kenyans will no longer need to travel abroad for accurate cancer diagnosis, a shift that should significantly lessen the burden of healthcare costs.

Disruptive models

The need for new and disruptive models to address the growing oncology burden in Kenya calls for an integrated primary healthcare approach that includes the development of human resources for health and incorporating tailored task shifting to close clinical capacity gaps.

In conjunction with Aga Khan University Hospital, GE Healthcare hosted a PET CT and Cyclotron symposium to drive dialogue on latest innovations and interventions in early cancer diagnosis and detection.

Other symposia will be held to continually bridge the knowledge gap in the field.


- The writer is the General Manager, East Africa, GE Healthcare
Post Reply