KAMPALA – The construction of the East African Oncology Center of Excellency, which will see the capacity of cancer care and research improve within the region is underway at Uganda Cancer Institute.
The centre whose completion is this year will reduce the migration of cancer patients seeking world-class care from East African community to India because the centre will also start offering highly sophisticated cancer treatment offered in developed countries.
“We anticipate the number of cancer patients from across the East African community to fly into Uganda to access cancer treatment at this centre of Excellency because it is one of its kind in the region. Cases of people flying to India for cancer treatment as it has been witnessed will automatically reduce,” reads UCI statement in part.
UCI further revealed that the training of different experts who are slated to work in this centre of Excellency is underway at Makerere University, Mbarara University of science and technology, Aga khan University and clerk University at large.
“186 cancer experts are being trained in different field to manage and diagnose cancer, undertake cancer trainings across the country and also conduct research on cancer,” they said adding that “Once the centre starts, we shall already be having experts to operate it since the trainees are undertaking long training which will lead to award of degrees in different field.”
It has been revealed that the Institute is also improving in diagnostics and treatment machines. “Certain machines have already been purchased and used while others are pending installation.”
According to UCI, the Linear Accelerator has already been purchased and it is yet to be installed in the Bunkers nearing completion.
“A magnetic resonance machine (MRI) and Laboratory and theatre equipment are yet to be purchased.”
