The Republic of Korea (South Korea), through the Korea Foundation for International Healthcare (KOFIH), has donated vital medical equipment to the Uganda Cancer Institute (UCI) to strengthen cancer prevention, screening, diagnosis, and treatment services in Uganda.
Speaking during the handover ceremony at UCI on August 18, KOFIH Uganda Country Director Juwang Baik reaffirmed South Koreaโs commitment to supporting Ugandaโs healthcare sector and improving cancer care through continued partnership.
According to Dr Nixon Niyonzima, Head of Research and Training at UCI, the donated endoscopy and colonoscopy equipment will enhance the screening and diagnosis of cancers affecting the digestive system, including cancers of the stomach, oesophagus, colon, and rectum. He noted that colorectal cancers are among the ten most common cancers in Uganda.
Dr Niyonzima explained that the new equipment will enable health workers to detect cancers at earlier stages, allowing for timely intervention and significantly improving treatment outcomes. Part of the donation will also strengthen cervical cancer screening services, a critical step in preventing and treating one of the most common cancers affecting women in Uganda.
Uganda continues to face a growing cancer burden, with UCI and regional cancer centres registering nearly 12,000 new cancer patients annually. Of these, about 9,000 receive treatment at Mulago, while the Mbarara and Gulu Regional Cancer Centres collectively manage over 2,500 cases each year.
The donation is part of the broader CANCAP-UG Project, which aims to improve cancer prevention, screening, diagnosis, and treatment services across UCI-supported health facilities nationwide, bringing quality cancer care closer to more Ugandans.
