Cancer Remains The Second Leading Non-Communicable Disease In The Country
Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha Wafula with Embu County governor Cecily Mbarire during the launch of Cancer Awareness Month at Ruyenjes Stadium in Embu County
By MoH CD
Worth Noting:
- “In the fight against cervical cancer in Kenya, one of the issues we have observed is failure to take action. This is why we have intensified awareness campaigns this month, and we will continue to sustain efforts to encourage behavior change among all,” she added.
- The CS disclosed that the Ministry of health has built capacity of over 6,500 health care workers in all the 47 counties of the Republic of Kenya at different levels of care with the skills to screen and treat the pre-cancer stage of this disease.
- The ministry has also developed various policies and guidelines to guide the implementation of various strategies to ensure that the country is not left behind in the elimination of cervical cancer.
The government has intensified the war against cervical cancer by introducing HPV DNA testing for the first time in 27 county referral hospitals, which is the recommended gold-standard method for cervical cancer screening.
According to the Cabinet Secretary for Health, Dr Susan Nakhumicha Wafula, the Ministry of Health is committed to achieve the Sustainable development Goal 3 by reducing premature mortalities from cervical cancer and ensure the Kenya’s future generations is free from cervical cancer.
In collaboration with the Clinton health Access Initiative, the Ministry of Health has distributed over 800 thermoablation and 200 LEEP devices for treatment of cervical pre-cancerous lesions to health facilities (Level 2 to 6) countrywide, and plans are underway to provide more for counties that have not yet received them.
“We are committed to ensure that every Kenyan is able to access the highest attainable standards of health in line with the constitution of Kenya”, said Dr Nakhumicha on Friday during the launch of the 5th Cervical Cancer Health Awareness Month at Runyenjes Stadium in Embu County where she was accompanied by Embu Governor Cecily Mbarire.
“In the fight against cervical cancer in Kenya, one of the issues we have observed is failure to take action. This is why we have intensified awareness campaigns this month, and we will continue to sustain efforts to encourage behavior change among all,” she added.
The CS disclosed that the Ministry of health has built capacity of over 6,500 health care workers in all the 47 counties of the Republic of Kenya at different levels of care with the skills to screen and treat the pre-cancer stage of this disease.
The ministry has also developed various policies and guidelines to guide the implementation of various strategies to ensure that the country is not left behind in the elimination of cervical cancer.
Cancer remains a major public health concern, not just here in Kenya, but globally as well, with close to 10 million deaths recorded globally in 2020.
In Kenya, cancer is the second leading non-communicable disease after cardiovascular diseases, with 42,000 new cases and 27,000 deaths recorded every year according to the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates.
The leading cancers are breast, cervical, prostate, esophageal and colorectal cancers – most of which can be prevented through screening and early diagnosis as set out in our national guidelines.
“Unfortunately, the scenario we have is that majority of our patients are presenting in late stages of the disease when it is difficult and more expensive to treat,” the CS noted.
“We have effective treatments available both for the precancer lesions as well as for the cancer itself. In fact, I am happy to note, Embu is one of the counties where we have established a regional cancer treatment center that we continue to support with the essential chemotherapy medicines,” she informed.
The CS revealed that Kenya is among the top 20 high cervical cancer burden countries globally with about 3,240 women losing their lives annually translating to about 9 women dying daily.
“We have now all the tools we need to eliminate this disease. The National Cancer Screening Guidelines have been disseminated to all counties and are freely accessible online and we have a vaccine targeting the HPV infection which is safe and effective to prevent this disease in the future generation,” the CS stated.
She called on parents to take their girls aged 10 – 14 years for HPV vaccination, which is offered for free, in health facilities and also urged all women aged 25 to 49 years to go for cervical cancer screening in the nearest health facility.
The Theme for this year, Accelerating Access for Elimination: Towards WHO 90-70-90 by 2030, resonates with the Ministry’s commitment towards a primary health care approach to improve access to health from the community level.
“Currently we are working towards Vaccination of 90% of girls from 10-14 years of age, Screening of 70% of women between 35 and 49 years of age and providing treatment and care for 90% of women identified with cervical cancer,” she noted.
These are the 90:70:90 global targets that must be achieved by 2030 to put Kenya on the path for elimination of cervical cancer. Each county has been given specific targets to achieve annually so that the country can achieve the 90:70:90 targets.
The CS appealed to all private healthcare providers to join the ministry in this cause, and to consider removing barriers such as high costs for cervical cancer screening so that more women can take up the services.
The Ministry of Health will continue working with counties, and all partners to eliminate cervical cancer in Kenya said the CS.
“As we seek to transform NHIF to a social insurance vehicle, the ministry will review the services offered to include screening, diagnosis and treatment for cervical cancer,” she disclosed.
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