Kitui county residents and those of neighboring counties have something to smile after Our lady of Lourdes Mutomo Mission hospital in Kitui South acquired Positron Emission Tomography-Computed Tomography (PET-CT) scanner to improve diagnosis and treatment of different diseases including cancer.
This is the fourth PET-CT scanner to be acquired in Kenya after Agha Khan hospital, Kenyatta National Hospital, and Coast General Hospital. The CT scanner will help a lot especially with the increasing cases of cancer in Kitui which have been reported to be around 27,000.
The launch took place at the Mission Hospital and was led by Bishop Joseph Mwongela of the Catholic Diocese of Kitui. Bishop Mwongela took the opportunity to urge Kitui residents to come to the hospital in large numbers to get cancer screening to detect cancer at its early stages.
He also said that all hospitals under the catholic diocese of Kitui will keep on bringing more machines to ensure that the residents get the best services.
“We have blessed and opened PET-CT scanner which can detect diseases early especially cancer. It is the first machine here in Kitui and also in lower eastern, I would urge the people to ensure that they are regularly screened instead of rushing for over-the-counter drugs.” Bishop Mwongela said.
The Bishop also called upon the residents to give their health a priority and ensure that they register for Universal Health Coverage to help reduce hospital bills.
“Register for the NHIF and the universal health coverage that our leaders have been talking of and helping each other for those who can’t afford the insurance covers,” he added.
William Maema the chair of the board of Mutomo Mission Hospital addressing the press after the launch said that there have been a large number of people in need of CT scanning services and that’s why the PET-CT scan machine will be of great help to the people in knowing their health status.
“This hospital which was constructed by the catholic church in 1965 is the one which has been helping the residents of Kitui South and in terms of catchment we have patients coming from all the areas of Kitui county and that’s why we found it good to bring this machine to get services closer to the people,” William disclosed.
William also reiterated that since this machine is the first one in Eastern Region there are expecting more people visiting to get the health services.
“This machine can detect cancer to the smallest detail and thus can help the patient to get treated at the right time after early detection of cancer. Everyone should come here at the hospital to get diagnosed early in advance and make use of this machine which has cost us a lot of money,” he concluded.
