Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) is establishing a massive comprehensive cancer centre to tackle the alarming rise of advanced oncological cases in the Lake Region.

Health experts in Western Kenya have raised the alarm over a rapidly escalating cancer burden, prompting urgent infrastructural and capacity interventions at the region's premier referral facility.

The grim reality is that thousands of patients are being diagnosed annually, with a tragic majority seeking medical intervention only when the disease has progressed to its most advanced, and often terminal, stages.

The Startling Data and Late Diagnoses

Recent data emanating from JOOTRH paints a highly concerning epidemiological picture. According to Dr. Fiona Adagi, a clinical oncologist and the esteemed director of oncology and palliative care at the hospital, the facility recorded approximately 500 new cancer cases in 2025 alone. A broader look at the region's Angaza Dashboard reveals a staggering 4,394 recorded cases over the last decade.

Cervical cancer remains the absolute leading diagnosis, accounting for an overwhelming 64 percent of the cases managed at the facility, with 1,038 patients currently documented. This is closely followed by oesophageal cancer (596 cases), breast cancer (524 cases), and prostate cancer (339 cases). Concerningly, Dr. Adagi notes that a significant proportion of the cervical cancer patients are concurrently managing HIV infections, complicating their treatment regimens.

"Most of our patients present in stage three and four, though we also see some in stage one and two," Dr. Adagi explained. The hospital's internal metrics indicate that women are disproportionately affected, frequently presenting at an average age of 40, while male patients typically present around the age of 60.

The Ksh 500 Million Comprehensive Centre

In response to this mounting crisis, JOOTRH is in the final stages of constructing a state-of-the-art Comprehensive Cancer Centre. Funded to the tune of approximately KES 500 million by the national government, the facility aims to centralize and revolutionize cancer management in Nyanza and its environs.

Historically, the hospital has offered screening, chemotherapy, surgery, and palliative care. However, the glaring missing link has been radiotherapy. At present, nearly 50 percent of the estimated 2,500 patients requiring localized radiation therapy are forced to travel vast distances to Kenyatta National Hospital in Nairobi, or facilities in Eldoret and Nakuru. This grueling travel imposes devastating financial and physical burdens on already vulnerable families.

The new centre will house chemotherapy, surgical oncology, and, crucially, operational radiotherapy services under a single roof. This monumental upgrade is projected to be fully functional within the year, drastically cutting down logistical nightmares for patients drawn from the 14 counties of the Lake Region Economic Bloc.

Navigating Treatment Continuity Challenges

Despite the medical advancements, JOOTRH faces significant socio-economic hurdles in managing the disease. Treatment continuity remains the single largest operational challenge. Health records indicate that roughly half of all diagnosed patients are lost to follow-up care.

This massive attrition rate is driven by a complex web of severe financial constraints, deeply entrenched cultural beliefs regarding terminal illness, and overwhelming difficulties in navigating the bureaucratic national referral systems. To combat this, the hospital has instituted rigorous new measures to track patients and ensure adherence to treatment protocols, even for those presenting in late stages.

• Infrastructure Investment: The KES 500 million investment signifies a major shift towards decentralized specialized healthcare in Kenya.
• International Partnerships: A strategic collaboration with King's College London is actively supporting specialist training, expanded diagnostics, and the establishment of a regional clinical trials hub.
• Local Awareness: JOOTRH is partnering with the Oncology Nursing Society-Kenya (ONS-K) to conduct community awareness walks and continuing medical education for local nurses.
• Cervical Cancer Epidemic: The 64 percent prevalence of cervical cancer highlights an urgent need for aggressive HPV vaccination and early screening campaigns in rural Nyanza.

A Hub of Excellence

The overarching ambition is to transform JOOTRH from a standard referral hospital into an internationally recognized hub of oncological excellence. By eliminating the need for exhausting cross-country medical journeys, the facility is quite literally saving lives through proximity.

As the construction nears completion, the anticipation within the medical community and the general public is palpable. The decentralization of advanced healthcare is a critical pillar in achieving universal health coverage, ensuring that geography does not dictate survivability.

"We want to be a centre of excellence that provides comprehensive, quality care... ensuring that a cancer diagnosis in the village is no longer an automatic death sentence," Dr. Adagi concluded with hopeful resolve.