Oncology Centre offers cutting edge cancer treatment

Windhoek’s new Namibian Oncology Centre, equipped with the country’s first Elekta digital linear accelerator, has significantly improved treatment options for cancer patients. The centre, built and equipped with funding from Spitz Healthcare Investments, also features chemotherapy, a laboratory, pharmacy and in-patient facilities.
The centre’s radiation therapy department began treating patients in July 2015, and its oncology pharmacy, chemotherapy unit and sub-acute ward have been operational since November. The Centre’s Elekta Synergy Platform digital linear accelerator enables a wide range of treatment options addressing a large variety of cancers.
Anthea van Wyk, Unit Manager at The Namibian Oncology Centre, said, “The equipment we have at the Centre assists our staff in delivering a high standard of care with accuracy and reliability. The Elekta Monaco treatment planning system can handle complex plans and exquisite dose distribution is available in one rotation with the high dose modulation capabilities. The equipment offers time-saving measures, is easy to use and boasts many safety features.”
As the first facility equipped with a digital linear accelerator in Namibia, the Centre is able to offer treatment to patients who might previously have had to travel long distances, at great expense, to seek treatment in South Africa.
Van Wyk said the Centre, with a capacity of up to 50 patients a day, currently has an average of 18 patients receiving radiation therapy every day. “However, at one stage over the past few months we were treating up to 28 patients a day,” she added.
“The incredible technology in the digital linear accelerator has also brought improved quality of life to those undergoing treatment as it boasts a high precision and accuracy, leading to fewer side effects during and after treatment. Treatment times are short and patients are generally able to continue with daily life whilst undergoing radiation therapy,” she said.
Van Wyk said as a result of its early success, the Namibian Oncology Centre is adding staff in efforts to improve its service offerings and service delivery in Namibia. She said, “Through continuous evaluation of the needs of cancer patients, we aim to provide cutting-edge treatment that will improve their quality of life and we will continue to engage the State in a partnership that will benefit our patients.”