The department of health services in collaboration with the national cancer institute will conduct a three days free cervix and breast cancer screening and treatment at the Garissa referral hospital ahead of World Cancer Day to be observed on Thursday February 4.
Speaking during a sensitization workshop by the national cancer institute for the county health management team and health workers, health CEC Roble Nunow urged women of childbearing age to take advantage of the free screening and turn up for testing.
Roble said cancer was highly prevalent in the county and expressed concern that members of local community were seeking help when the disease “is too advanced to be cured.”
“Cervix and breast cancer are becoming more prevalent among our women. Of more concern to us is that they come for treatment when the disease is too advanced to be treated,” Roble said.
“I want to call upon our mothers and sisters of child bearing age to come forward and take advantage of this free screening. Cancer can be treated when detected at an early stage,” he added.
The CEC welcomed the sensitization training by the team led by Dr Alfred Kiragu on the Kenya cancer policy 2013-2019 and the National guidelines for establishment of cancer management centers in Kenya.
He said the training was timely at a time when Garissa County in collaboration with national government were constructing a regional cancer center to control and manage the deadly disease.
Roble added that the training was also in line with Big Four Agenda of President Kenyatta’s priority projects.
He said Garissa County was fully prepared to collaborate with the National cancer Institute in the accreditation and training of the health management teams.
The CEC said reducing the impact of cancer in Garissa County was a top priority of the administration of Governor Ali Korane.
Dr Alfred Kiragu stressed the importance of ensuring that prioritization and investment in cancer prevention by county government is realized through capacity building to address gaps in cancer care within their own resources.
The training was also attended by county cancer Coordinator Fatuma Abubakar, Director for the county family health Mohamed Haret, Deputy Director Preventive and Promotive Health services Ibrahim Gedi, Director for nutrition Abdi Sheikh among other health officials.
by Jacob Songok
