JOOTRH relaunches EMPOWER Cancer Screening Clinic to improve patient care in Kisumu
Relocated to the hospital’s former casualty area, the clinic provides a larger workspace for patient navigators to coordinate referrals, appointments and follow-up care.
KENYA — Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) has relaunched its EMPOWER Cancer Screening Clinic in Kisumu to strengthen early detection, referral coordination and access to specialised cancer treatment.
The relaunch was presided over by Kisumu Governor Prof. Peter Anyang’ Nyong’o and First Lady Mama Dorothy Nyong’o. Dr. Ida Odinga initially launched the clinic in November 2019.
Clinic strengthens patient navigation
Relocated to the hospital’s former casualty area, the clinic provides a larger workspace for patient navigators to coordinate referrals, appointments and follow-up care.
The service guides patients through screening, diagnostic investigations and diagnosis, while connecting those with confirmed cancer cases to specialised treatment.
Patient navigator and cancer survivor Wilikister Akinyi demonstrated how the clinic manages referrals from community screening centres, prepares patients for biopsies and tracks diagnostic results.
The process is designed to reduce delays between initial screening, diagnosis and access to oncology services.
Cancer burden and treatment barriers
During the engagement, JOOTRH Head of Oncology Dr. Fiona Adagi presented the hospital’s cancer dashboard, which recorded 4,567 new cases between 2014 and 2025.
Cervical cancer accounted for the largest share of cases at the hospital, followed by oesophageal and breast cancers. Nationally, breast cancer remains the leading cancer type.
Adagi noted that many patients arrive at the hospital with advanced disease, often at stage four.
Financial constraints also delay diagnostic investigations, disrupt treatment and contribute to missed appointments.
In addition, approximately half of patients requiring radiotherapy must seek treatment outside the region, sometimes travelling hundreds of kilometres to access the service.
JOOTRH Chief Executive Officer Dr. Joshua Okise called for stronger national and county government support to address these barriers.
He highlighted challenges involving insurance coverage under the Social Health Authority (SHA) and the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF), which can affect patients’ ability to access and sustain treatment.
Comprehensive Cancer Centre nearing completion
Okise also briefed the delegation on the hospital’s Comprehensive Cancer Centre, which is intended to bring specialised cancer services together at one facility.
The centre will include three radiotherapy bunkers equipped to accommodate two linear accelerators and a brachytherapy unit.
Other planned facilities include a CT simulator, chemotherapy services and a bone marrow transplant unit.
Construction is approximately 85 per cent complete, although the hospital still requires medical equipment to operationalise the facility.
The engagement brought together representatives from Roche, Africa Cancer Foundation, Savannah Global Health Institute, the National Cancer Institute and Anchor of Hope.
Discussions focused on improving cancer detection, strengthening referral systems and expanding access to treatment.
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