By:Athuman Luchi
Mombasa is positioning itself as a growing regional centre for cancer care following the groundbreaking of the KSh63.2 million Faraja Cancer Wellness Centre at Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital.
The facility, being established through a partnership between the M-PESA Foundation, Faraja Cancer Support Trust and the County Government of Mombasa, is expected to strengthen cancer prevention, early diagnosis, counselling, treatment support and wellness services for patients across the Coast region.
The investment comes at a time when cancer continues to pose a major public health challenge globally, with patients and families facing not only the physical consequences of the disease but also significant emotional and financial pressures.
For communities across Africa, delayed diagnosis and limited access to specialised treatment remain major barriers to better cancer outcomes. The new centre is therefore expected to play an important role in bringing comprehensive cancer support closer to patients in coastal Kenya.
Speaking during the groundbreaking ceremony, Mombasa Governor Abdullswamad Shariff Nassir said no patient should be forced to face cancer alone because of financial limitations or lack of access to appropriate support.
He said the project reflects the county government’s commitment to making healthcare accessible to all, while strengthening specialised services at Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital.
The development complements ongoing investments in cancer treatment at Coast General, including the expansion of radiotherapy capacity.
Once completed, the Faraja Cancer Wellness Centre is expected to provide a more integrated approach to cancer care by combining medical support with counselling, early detection and wellness services.
Health stakeholders say such partnerships demonstrate the importance of collaboration between governments, private-sector foundations and specialised healthcare organisations in addressing complex health challenges.
For Mombasa and the wider Coast region, the centre could become an important part of efforts to improve early detection, strengthen patient support and reduce the burden cancer places on families.
The project also reinforces a broader message with international relevance: that access to quality cancer care should not depend on a person’s ability to pay.
As construction gets underway, Mombasa is seeking to demonstrate that stronger partnerships and investment in public healthcare can help transform the cancer experience—from one marked by fear and financial hardship to one defined by timely care, dignity, compassion and renewed hope.
