The Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral and Research Hospital (KUTRRH) has made history after becoming the first public hospital in East Africa to offer Lutetium 177 PSMA therapy, an advanced treatment for prostate cancer.
In a statement on Monday, January 27, KUTRRH announced that it has introduced the therapy, describing it as a regional first and a major step forward for the treatment of advanced prostate cancer.
"KUTRRH became the first public hospital in the region to offer Lutetium 177 PSMA therapy a groundbreaking, targeted treatment giving new hope to patients with advanced prostate cancer," the statement read.
KUTRRH explained that the new therapy works by delivering radiation precisely to cancer cells, which helps minimize damage to healthy tissue while enhancing treatment effectiveness for patients who no longer respond to standard therapies.
"This cutting edge therapy delivers radiation directly to cancer cells, reducing side effects and improving outcomes for patients who no longer respond to standard treatments," the statement added.
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KUTRRH Chief Executive Officer Zeinab Gura said the introduction of the therapy reflects the institution’s broader mission to expand access to high-quality cancer care using modern medical innovations.
"This advancement reinforces our commitment to world class, accessible cancer care," she said.
Notably, this comes months after a team of surgeons at KNH performed an operation to remove more than 20 kilograms of breast tissue from a 17-year-old girl suffering from a medical condition known as gigantomastia.
In a statement on Wednesday, October 23, the hospital said the surgery took 11 hours to complete and is believed to be one of the most extensive surgeries of its kind globally.
"A team of dedicated surgeons and medical staff at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) has given a 17-year-old girl the gift of a normal life. In a landmark procedure believed to be the largest of its kind in the world, the team successfully removed 20.86 kilograms of breast tissue from Lydia Musivi, who suffered from a severe and rare condition known as gigantomastia.
"The 11-hour surgery, performed on September 22, 2025, has freed Lydia from a debilitating condition that forced her to abandon her studies and dreams. The weight of the tissue removed was equivalent to 37% of her total body weight, a physical and emotional burden she had carried for 18 months," the statement read.
According to KNH, Lydia’s condition caused rapid and abnormal breast growth, resulting in chronic pain, skin infections, and emotional distress.
"Lydia's condition caused extreme, rapid breast growth, leading to chronic pain, skin infections, and profound emotional distress. The simple act of walking and standing up straight had become a struggle, and her hope for a future was fading," the statement added.
After the successful operation, Lydia expressed her relief and optimism about returning to school and pursuing her dreams.
"The weight is now over. I feel free, lighter, and ready to return to school. I can finally live the life I was meant to live and follow my dream of becoming a high school teacher," she said.
