The United States has donated equipment and drugs worth more than Sh2 billion for cancer and diabetes patients.

The drugs and equipment have been donated to the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret where they were received yesterday by CEO John Kibosia.

"We have received enormous support from the people of the United States and the Indiana University who have given us very valuable equipment and drugs that will last us for a very long time," said Kibosia when he received the drugs and equipment. The drugs including insulin, were from the Eli-Lily Drugs Company, which has given Sh13 billion donations to the referral hospital in five years.

"Another consignment of drugs and equipment is being cleared at the Port of Mombasa," said Kibosia. The equipment will go to most of the departments at the hospitals including theatre, Ear, Norse and Throat Unit, among other areas. Other equipment are the Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Ultrasound, Mimeographs, Dental Chairs and Biopsy machines.

Kibosia said the massive assistance was as a result of the good working relations between the hospital and medical institutions and other individual donors and well wishers in the United States. The large consignment of drugs and equipment arrived at the hospital at a time when the doctors and nurses of the institution are on strike.

The hospital Chief Pharmacist Dr Victor Kibyegon said the Insulin drugs for diabetes will last for a long time although they were receiving a high number of patients from within the country and neighboring areas including Uganda and South Sudan. "We give out these drugs free of charge to our patients but we are looking at ways to make the programme sustainable," said Kibyegon.

The hospital has been taking long to clear the drugs from the port and Kibyegon said they are in discussion to help ease the clearing procedures. Kibosia said the new equipment would help the hospital improve its capacity to handle cancer, diabetes and psychiatric patients who use the facility.

"Such equipment will enable us to operate as a fully fledged referral hospital", said Kibosia. The hospital has planned to put a cancer unit which will cost more than Sh400 million. Kibosia said the hospital would continue to carry out expansion of its services and operations in order to provide quality services.