Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral & Research Hospital (KUTRRH) undertook the first Cyberknife Treatment in sub-Saharan Africa.
The patient had a delicate tumor that could not be removed via surgery due to the risk involved. Cyberknife was the treatment of choice thanks to its precision.
Performed on Wednesday, September 27, the treatment took 22 minutes and is the first of the 5 treatment sessions for the next 5 days and that will mark the end of his treatment.
Following the surgery, Prof Olive Mugenda, the KUTRRH Board Chairperson, stated that NHIF will cover the cost of treatment and there are plans to bring other insurance companies on board.
Here are the specialists who performed the surgery
Abdil Jabbari -Application specialist and Medical physicist from Accurray USA.
Ruth Wambui – A radiation Therapist and Cyberknife Centre Manager from KUTRRH with many years of experience with Cyberknife operations in the UK.
Peter Loreh- A medical physicist and Radiotherapy Head of Department at KUTRRH. One of the few trained Medical physicists in the country with experience in stereotactic Radio Surgery.
Dr Tracy Irura- A trained Radiation Oncologist at KUTRRH and the lead oncologist in Cyberknife.
Dr. Shridhar -A radiation oncologist at HCG INDIA with many years of experience in Cyberknife and has delivered over 4000 Cyberknife treatment
What is Cyberknife Treatment
According to KUTRRH, CyberKnife treatment is a noninvasive radiation therapy, offering precise and effective treatment options for a wide range of medical conditions, especially cancer, while minimizing side effects and improving the overall patient experience.
The journey to acquire the cyberknife started in the year 2022. The vision was to create a Centre of Excellence in oncology by providing end-to-end diagnosis and treatment options for cancer at KUTRRH.
The commencement of the treatment also marks a key milestone for Kenya, the region, and Africa in general as the services are now available without having to travel outside Kenya for Kenyans or outside Africa for regional patients.
Conditions treated by Cyberknife include cancer tumors, pancreatic Lesions, functional disorders and Arteriovenous Malformations.
