The patients, Mary Birungi and Mary Gahoire, from Mbarara and Hoima districts respectively, were the first in a group of seven that Hospice Africa took to the Aga Khan hospital for treatment.

Uganda’s only radiotherapy machine broke down in early April, leaving about 2,000 patients stranded. Hospice is a charity that cares for terminally-ill patients.

Ms Miriam Donohoe, the charity’s communications and advocacy consultant, said the patients that Hospice sends to Kenya are funded under the Road to Care programme, which was initiated by Canadian doctor Joda Kuk in 2011.

“He observed the enormous needs of women with cervical cancer in rural settings during a visit to Hospice Africa Uganda,” said Ms Donohoe.

“After Uganda’s only radiotherapy machine collapsed, it was agreed to use the programme to send Hospice patients to Nairobi for treatment,” she added.

The two patients spent a total of 10 weeks in Nairobi.

Ms Donohoe clarified that the treatment is under a separate agreement between the Aga Khan University Hospital and the Ministry of Health through Uganda Cancer Institute. The hospital offered to provide free radiotherapy treatment for 400 cancer patients in critical need.

According to Hopsice Africa Uganda’s chief executive director, Dr Eddie Mwebesa, cervical cancer patients make up a large number of those on their palliative care programme.

“Since the breakdown of the radiotherapy machine, hundreds of patients in Uganda have been left without treatment. The Road to Care Programme has proven very important,” Dr Mwebesa said.

According to Ms Donohoe, both women will need to undergo MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) tests after 12 weeks to confirm that the cancer has been successfully treated.

Ms Roselight Katusabe, the palliative care nurse coordinator of the Road to Care programme, said the duo responded well to the treatments “with mild side effects that have been well managed”.