The National Assembly has pledged more funding to complete and equip Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) cancer centre.
The assembly Health Committee said operationalization of the facility will ease congestion and reduce referrals to Eldoret’s Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) which has been handling referrals from the Lake region.
The legislators said they would seek supplementary budget allocations to finish the facility at JOOTRH, bringing specialised cancer treatment closer to patients across the region.
On Wednesday October 28, the legislators toured MTRH and JOOTRH on Thursday October 29, to assess public fund utilisation, development projects and readiness to operate as a Level Six referral facility.
Kiligoris MP Julius Sunkuli, standing in for committee chair James Nyikal, said Parliament had a responsibility to oversee public funds and support the hospital services.
He said the cancer centre was a priority project requiring more resources before becoming operational. It would serve Kisumu, Western Kenya and neighbouring counties.
Kisumu Central MP Joshua Oron said the committee had witnessed congestion at the existing oncology unit, where about 60 patients were being treated in one section of a room.
The committee reviewed efforts to remove asbestos from ageing hospital buildings. Sunkuli said Parliament had supported the work, but more investment was needed to complete it.
JOOTRH Acting CEO Dr Joshua Okise said the National Assembly had allocated Sh230 million for development programmes in the facility.
He said about Sh1.9 billion had been allocated to facilitate the transfer of staff from the county to the national government, but additional funding was needed to hire more workers.
