Kisumu launches cancer centre to boost regional healthcare services

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The Kisumu County Government, in partnership with the Africa Smart Cities Alliance (ASCA) through the World Smart Cities Forum (WSCF) and the Chun Jeong-eun Future Foundation, has launched a major cancer centre to strengthen cancer screening, diagnosis and treatment in Western Kenya and beyond.

The centre has been established at Victoria Sub-County Hospital, recently elevated to a regional hub for specialised diagnostic services, with an initial focus on cancer and sickle cell disease screening.

Speaking during the launch on Tuesday, Kisumu Governor Prof. Peter Anyang’ Nyong’o said the facility would host two major programmes targeting early detection and improved management of the diseases.

The first is a Cancer Screening and Diagnostic Laboratory, developed in partnership with ASCA, which will provide advanced cancer screening and diagnostic services.

The second is the Sickle Cell Screening and Diagnostic Programme, which will strengthen early detection, diagnosis, treatment and long-term management of the inherited blood disorder.

The centre was named the Chun Jeong-eun-Nyong’o Cancer Centre in honour of Chun Jeong-eun, the late sister of World Smart Cities Forum President Jaewon Peter Chun and daughter of Younsoo Chun, chairman of the Chun Jeong-eun Future Cancer Foundation.

The foundation has invested significantly in the project in memory of Chun Jeong-eun, a Korean author and cancer advocate who died from breast cancer in June 2025.

The family were overcome with emotion during the unveiling of the commemorative plaque, as they reflected on Chun’s journey and her contribution to supporting cancer patients and their families.

Chun Jeong-eun was diagnosed with terminal breast cancer in October 2012 and lived with the disease for about 13 years before her death on June 13, 2025. During her illness, she dedicated much of her life to encouraging cancer patients and their families.

Her brother, Jaewon Peter Chun, who is also president of the Chun Jeong-eun Future Cancer Foundation, played a key role in establishing the cancer centre in Kisumu.

Nyong’o said the county had presented the idea of the centre to the World Smart Cities Forum, whose president and his family agreed to support the initiative through their foundation in honour of Chun Jeong-eun.

The governor called for strengthened cancer diagnosis, research and treatment services, saying the new facility would improve early detection and support better treatment and follow-up care.

“When detected early, cancer is curable,” Nyong’o said, emphasising the importance of research and timely diagnosis in the fight against the disease.

He said plans for a specialised cancer-focused institution in Kisumu had also been discussed with the Ministry of Health as part of efforts to expand the county’s capacity in cancer diagnosis, treatment and research.

Nyong’o thanked the Chun family and other partners for supporting the initiative, saying the facility would contribute significantly to the wider fight against cancer.

He described the launch as an important milestone in strengthening healthcare services in Kisumu and improving access to specialised diagnostic services for residents of the county and the wider Lake Region.

The project will expand Victoria Sub-County Hospital’s capacity in molecular diagnostics and advanced laboratory services while coordinating cancer screening programmes across Kisumu County and the wider region.

The centre is also expected to serve as a platform for research, specialised diagnostics and collaboration among healthcare institutions and development partners.

The initiative brings together partners from Kenya, Korea, India, the United Kingdom and other countries under a shared vision of promoting smart, inclusive and sustainable cities through improved healthcare services.

The establishment of the cancer screening and diagnostic laboratory comes amid a growing cancer burden in Kisumu County.

Data cited by Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) shows that Kisumu recorded 4,394 cancer cases between 2011 and 2025, with 720 new cases reported in 2024 alone, compared with 292 cases in 2018.

Cervical cancer accounted for the highest number of recorded cases at 1,038, followed by oesophageal cancer at 596 and breast cancer at 524 cases.

The data further indicates that between 75 and 80 per cent of cancer patients are diagnosed at advanced stages III or IV, highlighting the urgent need to strengthen screening, early detection and timely treatment.

The designation of Victoria Sub-County Hospital as a regional diagnostic hub also adds a new front to Kisumu’s response to sickle cell disease, complementing services already offered at JOOTRH.

According to the Ministry of Health, sickle cell disease affects an estimated 14,000 newborns annually in Kenya, while the national prevalence of the disease is approximately 0.9 per cent.

The sickle cell trait prevalence is significantly higher in malaria-endemic areas, ranging from 10 to 40 per cent in parts of the Coast, Western and Nyanza regions.

Health experts have warned that without early screening and appropriate management, between 50 and 90 per cent of children born with sickle cell disease may not survive beyond five years.

Data presented during the launch indicates that approximately 21 per cent of children in Kisumu carry the sickle cell trait, while about 4.5 per cent are born with the disease.

Experts attribute the high prevalence in the county partly to the natural protection that the sickle cell trait offers against severe malaria, which remains endemic in the region.

Sickle cell disease is a group of inherited blood disorders that causes red blood cells to become hard, sticky and crescent-shaped. Instead of flowing smoothly through blood vessels, the abnormal cells can block circulation, restricting oxygen delivery and causing severe pain, tissue damage and chronic anaemia.

The new programme is expected to strengthen early screening and diagnosis, enabling patients to receive appropriate care before complications become severe.

By Mabel Keya – Shikuku and Valery Nyagaka

Reporting originally appeared via Kenya News Agency. Read the full source for additional context.