Joyce Kabasita Amooti, a 59-year-old who resides in Kyenjojo had abdominal pains which she treated locally but in 2006, the pain worsened. Doctors in Fort Portal Hospital referred her to Mulago Hospital where she discovered she had cancer of the cervix. “I left and was given documents to come to Mulago where I have been for more than a year. I also underwent chemotherapy.” Amooti was receiving treatment until the Radiotherapy machine crashed in April 2016. She was also on the list of those being taken to Aga Khan Hospital in Nairobi but she opted to stay here. “I was referred to Nairobi but didn’t have money to continue receiving other treatments as I waited for the new machine.”
The new Radiotherapy machine arrived in August 2017 but only fully started to work last month after the banker to the house machine was refurbished. At least 8 patients are attended to per day and institute officials say the number is likely to rise after the machine is commissioned next week. “There are those patients now who are not aware that actually, the department is functioning. So after the official opening, all those patients are definitely going to come and we expect a rise in the number.” Said, Dr. Daniel Kanyike – Head, Radiotherapy Department.
The Uganda Cancer Institute Executive Director Dr. Jackson Orem said more than 2 billion Uganda shillings has been spent but the department is still highly understaffed. “We know what we need in order to handle the disease but the biggest problem that I see is that of the budget. Because on average at least we need per year 120 billion Uganda shillings to optimally run a service like what we are having here.” At least 150 patients were referred to Nairobi but it hoped that the Cobalt 60 Radiotherapy machine in operation, this treatment can be carried out here. And now that the Cobalt 60 machine has been restored, the referrals are set to stop. Dr. Orem said there was a plan to have a regional center of excellence. “…Kenya will be handling all the Kidney conditions, Tanzania will be handling all the heart conditions, and then Uganda; Uganda Cancer Institute for that matter will be handling all the complicated cancer cases.” With the arrival, installation and the final operation of the Cobalt 60 machine, patients like Joyce Kabasita who travel long distances for treatment can only wait to see a miracle cure for the disease that has utilized all available resources to stay healthy and live longer.
