Meru Governor Kiraitu Murungi has called on the national government to increase resources into the fight against the cancer.
Speaking during the World Cancer Day in Meru Town, Kiraitu told President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Deputy Dr. William Ruto that fighting the cancer menace was a major step in their quest to succeed in the universal health care agenda.
“There is an estimated 40 percent of cancer cases nationally with Meru County recording 3, 000 cases especially colorectal cancer,” noted the Governor.
He further appealed to the national government to purchase a Position Emission Tomography (PET) scan machine to save many Kenyans from flying abroad to seek cancer medication.
“One machine goes for Sh600m which the government should procure. Many Kenyans make endless trips to India for cancer treatment because there is no PET scan machine in the country,” he argued.
The governor has also requested the president to fund the National Cancer Institute which was established years back after two health ministers were diagnosed with cancer but currently lacks enough facilitation from the government.
Governor Kiraitu commended the national government for availing five chemotherapy chairs, chemotherapy drugs and equipment which he assured would cut the cost for patients who have had to travel to Nairobi for cancer treatment services.
He urged Meru residents to revert to traditional healthy diets stating that most modern highly processed foods were to blame for the rising cancer cases.
Meru County had the privilege of hosting 2019s World Cancer Day and residents turned up in large numbers for free cancer screening.
By Kelvin Nkrumah/Richard Muhambe
