Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga has called for an all-out war to halt the surging cases of cancer in the country.
Speaking at Kagumo Teachers Training College when he opened the 65th National Nurses Association of Kenya (NNAK) Scientific Conference, Kahiga warned the scourge may prove an impediment to the country’s long-term economic growth unless urgent steps are taken to contain its spread.
The county boss, who made the statement at a time when the world is commemorating World Breast Cancer Awareness Month, also challenged the government to avail itself of the necessary tools and equipment to enable people to access quality health services as one approach to combating the disease.
“This conference comes at a time when we are commemorating World Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which is to educate women about breast cancer and early detection tests so that they can take charge of their breast health. Breast cancer affects 1 in 8 women and 2.3 million women worldwide.
It is also the leading cancer in Nyeri County. If we are to win the war against premature deaths caused by breast cancer, we must also emphasise screening and health education,” he said.
“At this important day, I urge us to reflect very deeply on quality care and to commit to solutions that promote health, protect people, and prevent avoidable death and suffering in the county.
Our duty as Government is to ensure that you have the requisite tools to enable people to have access to the full range of health services, from those that protect and promote health to those that provide treatment, rehabilitation, and palliative care,” he added.
Statistics rank breast cancer as one of the leading cancers in the country, accounting for 34 infections for every 100,000 Kenyans.
It is followed by prostate cancer in men (17 infections per 100,000 men) and esophageal cancer (9 per 100,000 persons).
Health statistics put the number of deaths stemming from cancer in the country at 27,000 per year, with the number of new infections standing at 39,000, making the disease the third highest cause of morbidity after communicable and cardiovascular diseases.
Meanwhile, Kahiga has challenged nurses to take an aggressive role in shaping the future of health care in the country by engaging in research, policy advocacy, and policy implementation both at the county and also at the national level.
Noting that nurses comprise at least 60 per cent of all healthcare workers in the country, the Governor stressed the need for health workers to take their rightful place in shaping the Universal Health Coverage, which was launched in 2018.
“Today I challenge all our nurses who play various roles in the health sector to ensure they are not left behind in the advocacy, development, and implementation of the various County, National, and Global health agendas.
You must therefore take your rightful role and place in shaping the Universal Health Coverage Conversation on issues that touch on the entire eco-system,” stated the county boss.
He, however, urged his fellow county bosses to reciprocate the vital roles being offered by nurses and midwives by improving their working conditions and terms of service.
He also called for a review of health insurance schemes for nurses, noting that the medics undertake crucial tasks that constantly expose them to risks to their own health and lives.
The Governor also promised to take over the nurses’ grievances to the Council of Governors to ensure the issue of reviewing the 2010 scheme of service is reviewed afresh.
Nyeri has set aside a total of Sh176 million this year to go towards the promotion of nurses in the county.
“We must make medical care affordable for the nurses. If there is a county that has not put its nurses on medical insurance, wake up and smell the coffee.
How do we send soldiers to battle when we are not providing for them? As much as possible, we provide for others; we must ensure that we also provide for you,” he stated.
“We don’t want unrest in this sector. We must stop talking to each other and start agreeing with each other. Any county handling its matters in the press is headed for trouble,” warned Kahiga.
The theme for this year’s conference is Our Nurses, Our Future: Addressing Climate Change for Sustainable Universal Health Coverage.
It is in alignment with the country’s healthcare agenda to build a resilient health system that is capable of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
The three-day conference, which kicked off Tuesday, will come to a close on Thursday, October 19, 2023.
Also present were NNAK Chair Collins Ajwang’ Otieno, Nyeri County Health CEC Dr. Joseph Kiragu, County Health Director Dr. Nelson Muriua, and County Nursing Director Nelly Maina, among others.
By Samuel Maina
