Breast cancer survivors in Kitengela have a reason to smile as Noonkopir Afya Foundation in partnership with Mercy Steps Programme offered them free breast prostheses and mastectomy bras.
According to Noonkopir Afya Foundation Director, Margaret Masara, the foundation decided to help the survivors since the prostheses and mastectomy bras are very expensive and many survivors are not able to afford them especially given the harsh economic times.
“The stigma around cancer is like a curse and it becomes worse once one has had their breast removed due to breast cancer. We are therefore partnering with Mercy Steps Programme to end the stigma and to enable the survivors to restore their self-confidence and sense of well-being,” said Dr Masara.
She added that the cost of one breast prosthesis is Sh 300,000 and it is not available in Kenya while the mastectomy bra retails at Sh 2,000-3,000 per pair which makes them unaffordable for most women thus the government should provide them for free.
On her part, Niceta Njagi from the Mercy Steps Programme reiterated that people should not stigmatize cancer survivors as anyone can fall victim and it is a disease like any other and not a death sentence as usually portrayed.
She remarked that people with cancer should be embraced and offered all forms of support.
“People should not be lost because of stigma and denial. The more we embrace the survivors and offer them support, the more they accept their condition and have a chance to overcome the disease,” she remarked.
Njagi also urged men to stop stigmatizing women who have undergone mastectomy as this will crush their spirit and will to live.
While disclosing that the donations are from Switzerland, Njagi urged the government to waive the import tax so that many Kenyan women who have had their breasts removed due to cancer can benefit.
As she taught the beneficiaries how to use the breast prostheses, she urged them to take good care of them so that they last long and in case of death of a beneficiary, the relatives should donate the prostheses to another survivor if they are in good condition.
Noonkopir Afya Foundation offers counseling, cancer screening and referral treatment for cancer patients. In the past year, over 80 people have been screened for cancer for free courtesy of the foundation.
Breast cancer is the second leading cancer in Kenya with over 5,000 new cases annually accounting for 12.5% of all new cancers.
By Diana Meneto
