Gulu regional cancer institute 'ready to serve'

The €3.5 million (Shs14 billion) facility funded by the Austrian government is expected to help in the decongestion of National Referral Hospital, Mulago.

GULU | Phase I of the construction of the Uganda Regional Cancer Institute in Gulu City is estimated at 90 percent completion.

This facility is expected to offer services to the people of northern Uganda and the neighbouring regions of West Nile, Karamoja and Lango as well as people from South Sudan, Kenya and DR Congo.

While inspecting the progress of the institute by the board members of the Uganda Cancer Institute, Professor William Bazeyo said the construction of the facility is now estimated at 90 percent and it should ready for commissioning come June.

"Within the next three months, the facility should be ready for commissioning," Bazeyo, the board chairman, said.

"I also want to promise the community and people of this region that we shall have the most trained health workers who will bring services to the people."

Every year about 32,000 out of 100,000 people get cancer in Uganda with an 80 percent mortality rate a result of long distance to access treatment, early screening and diagnosis.

Dr Jackson Orem, the executive director of Uganda Cancer Institute, urged the public to utilise the presence of the cancer institute since it is established to render services to them.

"Make use of this institute because the issue of early diagnosis is not a problem since the facility is here and movement to Mulago is reduced," Dr Orem said.

Since the facility became partially operational in August 2023, over 300 patients have received treatment using the state of the art equipment such as the CT scan, mammogram and X-rays at the center.

Gulu City Council Speaker Alima Joyce applauded government through ministry of health for such an initiative to save lives of the people and went ahead to encourage the citizens to own the facility because government intension is to save lives.

"The institute is already in operation and I do pledge the people of Gulu city and the rest of the neighboring areas to embrace the project and own it because when we don't own it, we will not realise the good intent the government had in establishing this facility," she said.

The regional cancer institute in Gulu City, which sits on 4.5 acres of land, was commissioned in August 2021 by Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja.

The facility, constructed at €3.5 million (Shs14 billion) with funding from the Austrian government, is expected to help in the decongestion of National Referral Hospital, Mulago.