Dr. Oluga Reaffirms Government’s Commitment to Cancer Care and Specialized Health Services
The PS was received at JOOTRH by the Ag. Chief Executive Officer, Joshua Okise, who was accompanied by Senior Director of Nursing Teresa Okiri
Dr. Oluga also briefed on the status of the hospital's transition process, such as the finalization of key human resource tools that are meant to be submitted to his office within the week. Photo/Courtesy
By Juliet Jerotich
The Principal Secretary for Medical Services, Dr. Ouma Oluga, reiterated the government’s firm dedication to speeding up accessibility to specialized medical services in Kenya, with a keen interest in improving cancer treatment. During his official tour of the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) on Monday, Dr. Oluga assessed the progress of key infrastructural projects and the hospital’s transition process, which are elements of the government’s broader agenda to improve healthcare delivery in the region.
During his speech to the administrators of the hospital, Dr. Oluga asked them to accord top priority to the development of the Comprehensive Cancer Centre, which is a government-supported project of critical importance allocated Ksh 100 million in the budget. He appealed for an immediate redesign of the structural design of the facility to allow timely project delivery. It is his view that once fully operational, the center will be a game changer in cancer diagnosis, treatment, and research, and will see thousands of patients from the Lake Region and beyond. The center will not only increase access to affordable and quality cancer care but also alleviate the burden of patients who are currently forced to travel to distant facilities for treatment.
The PS was received at JOOTRH by the Ag. Chief Executive Officer, Joshua Okise, who was accompanied by Senior Director of Nursing Teresa Okiri and Senior Director of Administration and Finance Evans Oloo. The team briefed him on the latest developments at the hospital and thanked the Ministry of Health for the continued support. They highlighted how the government investments have improved JOOTRH’s capacity to provide quality, specialized medical services and increase operational efficiency.
Dr. Oluga also briefed on the status of the hospital’s transition process, such as the finalization of key human resource tools that are meant to be submitted to his office within the week. He gave assurance that the appointment process of a new board for the hospital is in its final stages, a measure that is expected to enhance accountability and management effectiveness once finalized.
He also reminded the hospital staff that their welfare remains a top agenda item even during the transition period. He noted that all the staff continue to have full medical cover and uninterrupted access to health services. Dr. Oluga noted that staff welfare needs to be maintained to have continued service delivery to the patients, particularly with the hospital expanding its specialized departments.
The PS commended the staff of JOOTRH for working diligently and being dedicated to improving healthcare outcomes within the region. He assured the government of its continued support regarding equipping the hospital with modern facilities and technologies to meet growing needs for specialized medical services, including cancer treatment. Through such ventures, the Ministry of Health, Dr. Oluga elucidated, is striving to establish Kenya as a center of excellence in healthcare in the region and ensure all citizens are able to access affordable, quality medical care close to their homes.
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