Kampala — The cobalt machine, which is used in external chemotherapy, has been working 16 hours a day since 1995

WHILE the number of cancer cases in Uganda is increasing by the day, the few radiotherapy machines at Mulago Referral Hospital are in a sorry state.

Dr. Joseph Kigula Mugambe, the head of the Radiotherapy Department in Mulago, says over 1,200 cancer cases are reported yearly.

But the cobalt machine, which is crucial in external chemotherapy, can no longer be used effectively because some of its components are almost falling off.

Mugambe says the machine was installed in 1995 and for 13 years, has been overloaded.

"Working 16 hours a day has been too much. Efficiency had to go down automatically. A new machine to replace the one which is crudely fixed with plaster costs about $500,000 (sh909m)."

With modern technology, the linear accelerator, which costs less than $1m (sh1.8b) has replaced the cobalt machine. The cobalt machine has a major problem of the decaying source and reduced output resulting in increased treatment times, which in turn reduces the patient output.

However, linear accelerators have made rapid progress in technology, design, ancillaries and utility. The patient has the guarantee of constant dose rate and increased accuracy in dose delivery. The accelerator is easily available since manufacturers no longer produce the cobalt machines.

Mugambe says the cervifix radiotherapy machine, used in the treatment of cervical cancer, is obsolete and requires replacement. An ultra modern cervifix machine costs $300,000 (sh545m).

He adds that currently, treatment takes 11 hours per patient, but if a new and modern machine is acquired, treatment will take two minutes.

He says the cervifix machine in Mulago was procured in 1988 and has been working non-stop. Every year, Mulago receives 400 cases of cervical cancer and the machine cannot handle all the patients. Only two patients can be treated a day. To complete the treatment, the patient has to attend for two weeks non-stop.

He appeals to the Government to install these machines in the hospital to save the lives of Ugandans.

Cancer can be cured effectively if handled in the recommended way; that is, attending all the clinics in the recommended time without skipping.