It is a new dawn for Cancer treatment in Kenya after the Kenyatta University Hospital received CyberKnife – a specialized precision treatment equipment.
The equipment uses CyberKnife System – the first and only fully robotic radiotherapy device in the world.
CyberKnife uses an approach called stereotactic body radiation therapy (SRS SBRT), delivering precise doses of radiation with extreme accuracy — and accounting for a tumour or patient movement in real-time.
While announcing the arrival of the modern cancer treatment equipment, Kenyatta University Hospital board chairperson Prof. Olive Mugenda said it was a dream come true.
With CyberKnife in the country, Kenya now becomes the second in Africa to acquire the equipment after Egypt.
“Happy to announce today, the arrival of the much-awaited CyberKnife- a specialised precision treatment eqp’t for Cancer. 2nd in Africa after Egypt. Dream come true for GoK & @kutrrh,” Prof. Mugenda said in a tweet.
She noted that installation works that are expected to take up to six weeks are expected to start soon.
NHIF to cover costs
Once fully installed, the CyberKnife equipment will start offering robotic radiosurgery treatment to cancer patients.
The patients will not pay anything, as all the costs will be covered by the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF).
“The delivery of the CyberKnife today at @kutrrh is a milestone in the provision of robotic radiosurgery treatment. It treats without affecting adjacent cells. This valuable precision nuclear medicine for cancerous & non-cancerous tumours is a game changer for Kenya and the region,” noted the Kenyatta University Hospital board chairperson.
The hospital had in August 2022 announced that they had acquired the modern cancer treatment equipment.
Further, it noted that it was part of its commitment to bring the latest innovations to its patients’ care including cancer treatments particularly surgery, radiation and chemotherapy.
“Movement of the tumour during treatment caused by coughing, breathing or swallowing does not alter precision since the CyberKnife machine automatically adjusts the radiation beams accordingly,” the hospital noted.
