The World Cancer Day in Kenya has been marked by a call for heightened public awareness, greater responsibility and action by all stakeholders and the need for a medical environment that enables early screening, access to treatment and better trained personnel.

The calls come at the backdrop of the Kenyan situation in which 27 000 people are estimated to die of the disease annually and between 20 000 and 80 000 new cases of cancer are diagnosed annually.

Cancer forms part of the 50% of the combined noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) in-patient admissions and hospital mortality of 40%. Cancer is the third leading cause of death in Kenya.

Lack of access to medical treatment shows many patients wait for cancer treatment in the main public hospital, Kenyatta National Hospital, for many months. Most cannot afford it in private hospitals because of the high cost of treatment.

Dr Joseph Kibachio, Ministry of Health head of NCDs, says the situation is critical with shared risk factors including use of tobacco, excessive drinking, poor diet and lack of physical exercise. Cancer was on the increase and common cancers include breast and cervical for women and colon and prostrate for men.

He said the loss of life given 60% of affected patients are aged below 70 years, was negatively impacting the country because the victims were in their prime stages of life. Many of them learnt about the infection too late to reverse the situation, he said.

“And yet what we see is the tip of the iceberg because there are many people who do not realize they are infected.”

He encouraged individuals, families, private companies and all other stakeholders to take responsibility towards preventing the disease. 

“Thirty per cent of cancers can be treatable but we have to detect it early,” he said. “We need everybody’s support and for individuals to take health choices that will save them from this scourge.” He said the government was encouraging both preventive and palliative care to ensure those infected were supported to live meaningfully.

But while the situation has seemed helpless for many patients waiting to get treatment, the Cabinet Secretary for Health Mr James Macharia had good news for the country.

He announced the country would this week sign a billion-worth contract for medical equipment 
The Sh 38 billion-worth of equipment will include those to be used in theatres, laboratories, intensive care units and others. Over 55% worth of the equipment (sh 21 billion) will be spent on cancer treatment.

He said each of Kenya’s 47 counties would receive medical equipment to be placed in two health facilities. This he said would ease the dire situation where patients wait for many months and enable to be screened and treated early.

The treatment arrangement will also include centres of excellence in which medical experts, who are few in number will advise on treatment for those in county medical locations.

The day has also been marked by the inauguration of the Cancer Board of Trustees whose role would be to support and direct cancer treatment and all related matters in collaboration with the government.

The media – TV, radio and print media also gave time and space to commemorate the day.

Speaking on the occasion of World Cancer Day, WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Matshidiso Rebecca Moeti called on African governments to scale up access to vaccines for cancer prevention, screening services for early detection and provision of treatment and palliative services.

“Many lives can be saved in our region if appropriate investment is made in raising public awareness on the early signs and symptoms of common cancers," she said. She called on people to adopt healthy lifestyles to reduce the risk factors.

Globally, cost-effective solutions were within the reach of communities, individuals, governments and stakeholders unlike in the region, she said.