The staff of the Uganda Cancer Institute gathered outside the facility to welcome President Museveni who was scheduled to review the progress of the construction of the Radiotherapy department but the President canceled his visit at the last minute. The event was being held ahead of the Institute’s 150th Anniversary. Last year the country’s only Radiotherapy machine broke down leaving thousands of patients stranded. The Director Dr. Jackson Oryem told NTV that some parts of the Radiotherapy machine that the government ordered were to arrive in the Kenyan coastal city of Mombasa by the 28th of this month. “The assembling of the equipment might take a couple of weeks and that will be followed by testing that will also take half a week. So we can give ourselves that within a month of the machine has arrived, it will be ready for testing and then eventual commissioning.” Said, Dr. Jackson Orem – Executive Director, Uganda Cancer Institute. “Being a complex machine, transportation on the way may take another one week also, then after the installation exercise will take place because the government through Uganda Revenue Authority have now issued a transportation permit which is applicable to the entire reason so really we see no major obstacles.” Said, Geoffrey Olum – Head of Engineering, Uganda Cancer Institute.
The renovations at the Radiotherapy department took 60 days and the Arab Contractors carried it out at a cost of 1.1 billion shillings. Dr. Cissy Namutalethe Radiotherapy Oncologist said Brachy Therapy machine which was ready would treat Gynecological, Rectum and Fagus cancers. “Currently, we are able to treat 5 to 8 patients per day that's what we treat here. So 5 multiply by 28; that’s a hundred plus patients.” Said, Cissy Namutale. When you combine all death rated diseases such as HIV AIDS, Malaria and Tuberculosis, cancer still tops as one of the deadliest diseases killing many Ugandans. The Uganda Cancer Institute was yet to broaden its treatment by introducing a bone marrow transplant treatment system. “And we hope by next we will have our first bone marrow transplant done, so as the Jackson told you earlier; eventually maybe people will not have to go to other countries for some of these complex procedures.” Said, Dr. Henry Doungu – Consultant Hematologist, Uganda Cancer Institute.
Currently, cancer treatment at Mulago Hospital is free. The Uganda Cancer Institute was also tasked to construct the East African Center of Oncology Excellence to minimize referrals abroad. The institute also invested in a six level linear Bunker which was still under construction and will cost over 25 billion Ugandan shillings.
