The University’s Medical College in East Africa is set to invest in a state-of-the-art Centre for Oncology Research and to create a new Department of Oncology as it strives to advance research into cancer, the second leading cause of death around the world.
Professor Robert Armstrong, founding Dean of the Medical College, made the announcement at a symposium to commemorate the acquisition of an ultra-modern Positron Emission Tomography–Computed Tomography (PET-CT) scanner and Cyclotron
;by the University’s teaching hospital in Nairobi.
The PET CT machine is a molecular imaging system that gives an accurate indication of the progress of the disease in its earliest stages. The clarity of this technology enables clinicians to confidently evaluate a patient’s response to cancer treatment, reducing on unnecessary procedures and cost of treatment. About 70 per cent of cancer patients don’t respond to their initial chemotherapy. Clear technology through PET CT and Cyclotron helps match the right therapy to the right patient, ensuring personalised care, and enabling clinicians to confidently evaluate a patient’s response to cancer treatment.
The PET CT and Cyclotron symposium, which was jointly organised with GE Healthcare, sought to drive dialogue on the latest innovations and interventions in early cancer diagnosis and detection.
Speaking at the symposium, GE Africa and GE Healthcare President and CEO, Africa, Farid Fezoua said: “We are very happy to collaborate with the Aga Khan University Hospital to deliver the first PET CT and Cyclotron in Sub-Sahara Africa excluding South Africa, which will potentially impact over 800 million people.
“Today’s symposium is an important part in this huge milestone to drive dialogue in the fight against cancer and equip healthcare professionals with knowledge in such advanced technologies.”
During the symposium, Professor Armstrong spoke about how AKU was focused on providing “a high quality integrated model of care focused on continuous learning, developing and sharing best practice, and focused on the continuum of patient care.”
He added that the forthcoming Centre for Oncology Research would build research capacity in the field and address the unique issues that present in the context of communities in East Africa.
Professor Von Schulthess, chairman of the department of medical radiology at University Hospital Zurich, also hosted a webinar The Impact of Molecular Imaging on Disease Evaluation Contents at the symposium.
The acquisition of the PET CT scanner and Cyclotron and the University’s plans to enhance research into cancer fall in line with targets under Sustainable Development Goal 3 which call for special efforts to reduce cancer deaths around the world.
The symposium was attended by university faculty, radiologists and cancer specialists from across East Africa.
