On 26th March, 2021, KUTRRH received a cyclotron machine which was delivered to the IMIC. The Cyclotron will produce isotopes, otherwise known as Fluorodeoxyglucose (18F) FDG, which are injected into the patient and serve to trace the presence or otherwise of cancer as well as to monitor remission or progression of cancer in the body. Once the isotopes are injected into the body, the presence of cancer in patients will be detected through a PET/CT scanner or SPECT/CT scanner that will produce images for the precise location of the cancer cells in the body.
The delivery and rigging of this machine was witnessed by the Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Health, Sen. Mutahi Kagwe, the Chairperson of KUTRRH Board of Directors, Prof. Olive Mugenda, the Chief Executive Officer for General Electric (East Africa), Ms. Brenda Mbathi, KUTRRH’s Ag. CEO, Dr. Victor Njom. Members of the Hospital Management and staff.
While speaking during the event, the CS Kagwe lauded the hospital for the bold moves it is taking to bridge the cancer gap in the country. KUTRRH sees this as a huge opportunity to increase access to quality cancer care by addressing existing gaps and potential future growth through innovative, care delivery models.
The cyclotron will not only produce radioisotopes for the two PET/CTs in the IMIC but it will also supply other scanning machines in other hospitals. The radioisotopes so produced will be done in strict adherence to the Good Manufacturing Practices following regulatory requirements.