By Jane Mugambi
Kirinyanga County, Kenya: The Ministry of Health has recorded 42,000 new cancer cases annually, Principal Secretary of Health Mary Muthoni has disclosed.
PS Muthoni revealed the data during a recent free cancer camp at the Raimu primary school grounds in Gichugu constituency, on Saturday in commemoration of her sister Gladys Wanjiku Muriuki who died of cancer last month.
“The Ministry of Health has been able to record over 40,000 new cancer cases with 27,000 people dying annually, this is a big number,” PS Muthoni said.
She noted that there was a need for free medical camps in various parts of the country for sensitization. She said most people get diagnosed with cancer when it’s at the 75% stage Kenyans to be screened regularly.
“We are now moving to the grassroots level to educate Kenyans that cancer is curable when diagnosed early, most Kenyans get diagnosed with cancer when it is at 75% stage” She added.
According to Kirinyaga deputy governor David Githanda, at the Kerugoya cancer center; 2500 new cases have been recorded in two years with 1492 being men and 1029 women.
“We have recorded 2500 new cancer cases at the Kerugoya cancer center with men who were diagnosed 1492 and 1029 women; this is a very big number,” said Githanda. If one is screened and diagnosed with cancer and starts treatment earlier they can be saved, there are machines at our cancer center and also at our health facilities.
She said women between 45 years and below should be screened saying it’s the reproductive age of most Kenyans.
The PS said that there is a global strategy that will be used for the reduction of cancer; 70%, of all girls at the age of 9-14 get the HPV injection while 90% of women get screened for cancer, especially cervical cancer 70% out of the many who get the disease will be treated.
“Let our girls be injected, this is the only way to reduce cancer cases in Kenya” she added.
The Social Health Insurance Fund has three funds primary funds that will cater to patients at a low level while the Social Health Insurance Fund is where contributors are supposed to pay Sh 300 and can get treated in all health facilities.
“The government has come up with a health fund that will see Kenyans be treated in all hospitals as long as they pay Sh. 300; they can get treated even in private, mission, and public hospitals”, The PS added.
The chronic illness fund will cater to Kenyans with chronic illnesses whether children, women, or men, who are not able to pay for themselves.
“With chronic fund patients will be able to get drugs unlike other times where cancer patients used to purchase drugs by themselves she said.
The chronic fund will cater for dialysis, and cancer among other chronic illnesses; urging Kenyans to get the card.
Ministry of Health has been able to access all health facilities and has been able to know where the gaps are; from specialized professionals, equipment, and infrastructure needed. The government is in the process of getting machines and also employing qualified health professionals.
She said the 1222 community health promoters in the county will be responsible for 100 households; as a way to address prevention and promotion of health care.
“A community health care provider is responsible for 100 households, this is to prevent and promote primary health care”The PS went on to say.
The medical camp screened for cervical,breast, prostate, and colon cancer.
She urged Kenyans to stop excessive alcohol usage, and smoking and also educate in schools on HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases and how it is transmitted.
“I cannot tell you to stop taking alcohol completely what I can advise you to do it in a minimal; if you know you will get drunk and engage in sexual behavior always use a condom to avert getting infected, we are also going to educate sex education in schools so as to get our students know the dangers of irresponsible sexual behavior and also let them know that HIV and AIDS is real so as to keep them off irresponsible behaviors “The PS went on to say.
