60-year-old Buladina Namusana a resident of Namasagali in Kamuli district has breast cancer and has been battling the deadly disease for ten years now. “Cancer developed for the second time, three years after an operation. When I went to Jinja Hospital for treatment, they referred me to Mulago Hospital.” Said, Buladina Namusana – Lives with Cancer. She underwent two surgical operations. She gets treatment from the Uganda Cancer Institute in Mulago but has been here for two weeks awaiting radiotherapy. “The first treatment I got caused my hair to break.” Said, Buladina.
The new radiotherapy machine installed at the Cancer Institute was a huge relief to the elderly woman. The Prime Minister Ruhakana Rugunda commissioned the Cobalt 60 Radiotherapy machine in the company of the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency Yukiya Amano, Health Minister Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng and the officials from the Cancer Institute. The officials said that the machine can handle up to 8 patients per day. “There is a great need to combat this challenge by investing in early detection and prompt treatment. That is why the restoration of these Radiotherapy services should have happened yesterday.” Said, Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda – Prime Minister. “Human resource is most important in cancer treatment. Technology makes progress every day and we need to update all the time; updating and upgrade.” Said, Yukiya Amano – Director General, International Atomic Energy Agency.
The Health Minister Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng, said the machine was working above capacity and may break down since the number of patients for radiotherapy is overwhelming and the need is increasing. “More recently in 2013, a plan for a second machine was initiated through a cost-sharing arrangement between IAEA and the government of Uganda. However, the procurement was delayed due to lack of a proper and an accredited banker where this machine could be installed.” Said, Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng – Minister of Health.
The Health Minister dismissed previous claims where some people were saying that the radiotherapy which had been launched was old technology thus it could expose the patients to radiations that are very perilous to human health. "This is an Ultra-modern Cobalt machine and has been approved by the International Atomic Energy Agency." Said, the Health Minister. With the new radiotherapy machine here now, Namusana hopes to recover with frequent treatment.
