Meru Governor Isaac Mutuma has announced plans to establish a Sh5 billion cancer care facility in the county to provide cancer care services locally. The governor made the announcement while opening a new 250-bed ward block at Meru Teaching and Referral Hospital. He stated that cancer is a significant health challenge in Meru, and the new facility will ensure patients have access to cancer care services closer to home.
The governor noted that cancer has affected many families in Meru, and patients often present to the hospital when the disease is already advanced. Mutuma emphasized that early detection is crucial in treating cancer and that the county is working to strengthen cancer screening across all 45 wards of Meru County. The county currently offers various cancer services at the main hospital and plans to enhance these services.
The Meru Teaching and Referral Hospital has already completed an oncology ward with 20 additional beds, complementing the existing eight beds. This expansion aims to enable more cancer patients to receive chemotherapy services closer to home. The governor reiterated that the objective is to ensure patients do not have to travel to Nairobi for chemotherapy services.
To enhance services across the county, the administration has embarked on upgrade works at the top sub-county hospitals. The four regional hospitals are currently operating as Level 4 hospitals and will be elevated to regional Level 5 hospitals. This transformation is being achieved through strategic infrastructure investments, expansion of specialized services, improvement of medical equipment, and strengthening of human resources.
The governor stated that his administration is partnering with the National Government to ensure specialized services are available at the hospital. The plan is to transform Meru Teaching and Referral Hospital into a Level 6 regional medical hub, serving not only the people of Meru County but also patients from the wider region, including Embu, Tharaka Nithi, Isiolo, Kitui, Marsabit, and Samburu counties.
The hospital's infrastructure has progressively expanded, enabling it to offer services to patients in Meru and neighboring counties. The county has installed a state-of-the-art 64-slice CT scanner, strengthened diagnostic imaging capacity, and allowed specialists to make faster and more informed clinical decisions. The county has also expanded its dialysis capacity and completed a modern incinerator to strengthen healthcare waste management.
Governor Mutuma's administration has inherited both an achievement and a challenge since he was sworn into office on March 17, 2025. The achievement was that Meru had already built a major referral institution, but the challenge was that many people were still traveling long distances outside the county to seek specialized healthcare. The governor's vision is to make specialized services available locally, reducing the need for patients to travel to other counties for treatment.
Key points
- The new cancer care facility will be established at a cost of Sh5 billion.
- The facility aims to provide cancer care services locally, reducing the need for patients to travel to Nairobi.
- The county plans to strengthen cancer screening across all 45 wards of Meru County.
