By Recognizing the burden of cancer in the country
President Uhuru Kenyatta on 1st August 2019 directed the ministry of health to develop a cancer policy to address the growing burden of the disease in the country.
In regard to this, Kenya has launched the Kenya Cancer Policy 2019-2030 and alongside this policy document Breast Cancer Screening Pilot Report.
The Ministry of Health has noted that Individuals with underlying conditions are more at risk not only on contracting the disease but also dying due to low immunity.
The cancer policy document provides a framework on how to comprehensively manage the cancer burden in the country through the systematic implementation of evidence-based interventions in the area of care.
The Ministry of Health has put in place deliberate access to improve access to cancer services in line with the Universal Health Coverage Agenda. Through the Managed Equipment Services (MES) the ministry has availed x-ray, CT-SCAN equipment, ultrasound, and mammography machines, to the counties to boost county diagnosis.
In collaboration with the counties, the Ministry of Health has established 10 county chemotherapy centers, which are operational and fully functional.
Recognizing the burden of cancer in the country
Additionally, the ministry has also operationalized the Kenyatta University Teaching and Research and Referral Hospital. The Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine to prevent cervical cancer-targeting 10-year-old girls has been launched.
The Ministry of Health has noted that Individuals with underlying conditions are more at risk not only on contracting the disease but also dying due to low immunity.
One such condition is cancer, and according to available statistics, six patients of coronavirus who have succumbed were nursing cancer which has been slowly and quietly been consuming the people of our great nation.
Cancer is one of the most impacting diseases on our people and health facilities in recent times with one household in the county being affected in one way or another by the deadly disease.
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