Uhuru unveils new Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital Regional Cancer Treatment Centre

President Uhuru Kenyatta has unveiled the new Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital Regional Cancer Treatment Centre.

Uhuru unveiled the facility on Tuesday, a day after arriving at the coastal city of Mombasa where he presided over the official opening of the Health Workforce Conference, 2022.

He was accompanied by the Health CS Mutahi Kagwe, Governor for Mombasa County Hassan Joho, Mvita Constituency Member of Parliament Abdulswamad Nassir among other leaders.

The ultra-modern facility which developed in partnership with the National and County government is part of the Universal Health Coverage pillar or the Big Four Agenda.

Uhuru toured various sections of the facility and even got his blood pressure checked; a clear indication that the facility is up and running.

The facility will boost the country's fight against the killer disease Cancer and will cater for patients from the region and beyond.

The centre is the second public facility of its repute in the country after the one at the Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral and Research Hospital.

Uhuru lauded the partnership between the National Government and the Regional Government in the delivery of health services to Kenyans.

The president said no significant development could be realised if the two levels of government did not work together.

"This hospital is now able to provide services because we sat together with the governor who offered the land for us, as the national government, to put up the infrastructure and install modern equipment," Uhuru said.

Uhuru affirmed his commitment to ensuring Kenyans have access to quality health services.

"We are doing all this to ensure wananchi have unfettered access to quality health services. We are doing these things not only in Mombasa but across the country," the president said.

The Health CS Mutahi Kagwe thanked the president and said without good leadership there would be no development.

“We thank you because it is very easy to take things for granted. It is easy to assume that any other leadership would have brought similar developments. But without good leadership there would be no development,” Kagwe said.

Kagwe revealed similar cancer facilities will be opened in Nakuru, Garissa, Kisumu and Nyeri Counties starting March.

Mombasa Governor also reiterated the importance of cooperation and said anyone against the cooperation with the president does not have the interest of Kenyans at heart.

“Your Excellency, I want to confirm that we are overwhelmed by the referrals that come to us from private hospitals. Your Excellency, I also want to confirm that we are overwhelmed by the kind of support we are getting from professionals, consultants and doctors from the private sector who want to practice here,” the Joho said.