RFH Healthcare Managing Director Dr Maxwell Okoth speaks during the commissioning of Elekta Harmony Linear Accelerator at the RFH Cancer Center in Ruai/HANDOUT
As the world marked World Cancer Day under the theme
“Closing the Care Gap,” RFH Healthcare Group commissioned Elekta Harmony Linear
Accelerator at the RFH Cancer Center in Ruai.
The equipment provides radiation therapy with enhanced
precision and productivity in cancer care treatment.
The installation is the first Elekta Harmony system in sub-Saharan
Africa.
The commissioning represents a major milestone for cancer
care in Kenya and the region, reinforcing the country’s growing role as a
regional hub for advanced oncology services.
The ceremony was presided over by the Founder and President
of Elekta Harmony Dr Laurent Leksell, highlighting the global significance of
the installation and RFH Healthcare’s commitment to international standards of
care.
The Elekta Harmony Linear Accelerator is a state-of-the-art
radiotherapy system designed to deliver highly precise, patient-centered
treatment with improved accuracy, reduced treatment times, and better clinical
outcomes.
Its introduction significantly expands access to modern
radiotherapy services for patients who previously faced long waiting times,
high costs, or the need to seek treatment outside the country.
Speaking during World Cancer Day, RFH Healthcare Managing
Director Dr Maxwell Okoth emphasised that the commissioning goes beyond
technology and reflects a broader commitment to equity in healthcare.
“World Cancer Day calls on us to close the care gap. Today’s
commissioning is a practical response to that call — bringing advanced,
life-saving cancer treatment closer to patients, regardless of their background
or financial status,” Okoth said.
The event also featured a high-level dialogue on affordable
cancer care, focusing on how advanced oncology services can be sustainably
delivered within Kenya’s health system.
President of Elekta Harmony Dr Laurent Leksell (centre) and RFH Healthcare Managing Director Dr. Maxwell Okoth (right) during the commissioning of Elekta Harmony Linear Accelerator at the RFH Cancer Center in Ruai/HANDOUT
Discussions highlighted alignment with national priorities,
including the Bottom-Up
Economic Transformation Agenda, the integration of Social
Health Authority (SHA) coverage for radiotherapy services, and the
implementation of a sustainable affordability model aimed at expanding access
to treatment.
By commissioning the Elekta Harmony system on World Cancer
Day, RFH Healthcare underscored the importance of policy, technology, and
financing working together to reduce cancer-related inequalities
Clinics and health facilities are increasingly recognising
that treating cancer effectively requires looking beyond the disease itself to
address the emotional, social and economic challenges patients face.
Early screening, lifestyle awareness and holistic support
can improve outcomes, while timely intervention remains a critical factor in
survival.
Kenya records about 45,000 new cancer cases and nearly
29,000 cancer-related deaths every year, underscoring a growing public health
burden.
According to WHO’s GLOBOCAN 2022 estimates and the National
Cancer Institute of Kenya (NCI), cancer is now among the leading causes of
death in the country, driven largely by late diagnosis and limited access to
care.
The most common cancers are breast, cervical, prostate,
oesophageal and colorectal, which together account for nearly half of all cases.