World Bank to assist Kenya to build cancer centers

The World Bank's private sector arm has said it will assist Kenya to build regional cancer centers in order to increase access to treatment.

International Finance Corporation (IFC) Investment Officer Josie Muigai told Xinhua in Nairobi that prevention and treatment of cancer is hampered due to a shortage of affordable cancer hospitals and specialists.

"In the initial phase, we will assist Kenya to source for private sector players to build three cancer centers across the country," Muigai told Xinhua on Saturday.

Kenya currently has one public sector cancer outpatient facility and this forces majority of patients to seek medical treatment abroad.

IFC's role will act as a transaction adviser to Kenya in the Private Public Partnership agreement.

The government will provide the land while the private sector player will build, operate and hand over ownership of the centers to the government after an agreed period of time.

Muigai said the financing model accelerates the government to establish cancer centers as it provides for a longer repayment period.

IFC will also provide the technical, legal and environmental assessment and at the same time build a financial model to ensure private sector bids are submitted in a transparent manner.

Muigai said the construction will begin in 2017 and will take 12 to 18 months to complete.

"We hope to duplicate the financial model in the rest of sub Saharan Africa," he said.

According to the Ministry of Health's Cancer Prevention and Control Strategic Plan, Kenya plans to build ten sub regional cancer care centers. Endit