Government Plans PET Scans for Regional Referral Hospitals, Kabale MP Says

What the report says

Kabale Municipality MP Andrew Aja Baryayanga says Parliament has allocated funds to procure PET scans, with Kabale Regional Referral Hospital expected to be among the facilities that will host the equipment for the Kigezi Sub-region. According to Nile Post, he said the wider government plan is to place PET scans at regional referral hospitals to help ease pressure on cancer patients who currently travel long distances for specialised diagnosis.

Baryayanga made the remarks on Saturday during the flag-off of participants in the 15th Rotary Cancer Run at White Horse Inn grounds in Kabale Municipality. The annual run is part of a national effort to raise money for cancer treatment and is currently supporting the completion of a cancer institute at St Francis Hospital Nsambya in Kampala.

Nile Post reported that a PET, or Positron Emission Tomography, scan is used to show how tissues and organs are functioning, making it a key diagnostic tool in cancer care. Baryayanga also urged government to consider a specific day for physical exercise to help in cancer prevention, comparing it to National Cleaning Day. The Rotary Club of Kabale City said it raised more than Shs15 million from the event.

The report said the Rotary Cancer Run began in 2012 and has grown into a nationwide campaign. This year’s edition is targeting Shs5 billion for the Nsambya cancer centre, underscoring continued pressure to expand cancer services and improve access outside Kampala.