The Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) has installed the Amulet Sophinity Digital Mammography System, an AI imaging technology that highlights a new era in breast cancer diagnosis and management across Western Kenya.
The installation of this system shows Kenya’s goal to improve affordable healthcare under the Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
“The Amulet Sophinity system features Digital Breast Tomosynthesis (DBT), a 3D imaging technology that produces high-resolution images using low-dose X-rays. It enables the identification of subtle breast tissue abnormalities, including cancerous and pathological cells, far more effectively than conventional systems. The system offers enhanced comfort even during compression, realistic magnification for closer viewing, and quick image capture. Additionally, the machine adjusts to lower heights, up to 50cm, making it wheelchair-accessible, ensuring no one is left behind in screening efforts,” reads a post by JOOTRH on Facebook.
The system is especially effective in identifying dense or complex breast tissue patterns and differentiating benign from malignant growths, leading to faster and more precise diagnoses.
The service is targeted primarily at high-risk individuals aged 40 years and above, both men and women, referred by clinicians for screening. However, those with a family history of breast cancer are encouraged to begin screening as early as 35 years of age.
Beyond initial diagnosis, the system supports ongoing cancer management. It can be used to track treatment progress, including monitoring tumor response to chemotherapy or radiation. This helps doctors make timely treatment decisions and may improve recovery.
JOOTRH offered free mammogram screenings for 15 individuals aged 40 and above. The mammography service is now fully operational and available to the public at an affordable fee of KES 1,500, a huge step toward reducing the cost barriers that have affected people from getting access to early detection in Kenya.
This milestone in Kisumu shows how technology can transform public health and bring hope to thousands at risk of cancer.
