Nyeri County Department has partnered with Kenyatta University Teaching and Referral Hospital to advance scientific research in esophageal cancer.
Nyeri is one among five counties that have been selected to benefit from the programme which is being jointly undertaken with support from The University of Manchester and The Christies NHS Foundation Trust.
The National Institute for Health and Care Research is funding a three-year program at a cost of Sh 446 million. The research is also being conducted in Kisii, Meru, Nakuru, and Garissa counties, focusing on esophageal cancer prevalence and infrastructure availability.
According to a statement on the Department’s Social Media pages, the main aim of the research will be to establish the causes of the cancer in Nyeri. They will also work together to come up with the best treatment for the condition. The partnership is expected to culminate in the establishment of lower-level cancer screening stations across the county.
“The lower-level cancer screening stations will ensure that services are accessible to most residents, as well as utilize Community Health Promoters by enhancing the referral system at the community level and on a higher level between the County facilities as hubs and KUTRRH as the hub and spoke,” stated the Department in a Statement.
In 2022, the County Health Department’s internal research revealed that cancer is the leading cause of illness and death in Nyeri, with breast cancer being the most commonly diagnosed, followed by oesophagus and prostate cancer.
This week, Community Health Focal Persons and Community Health Assistants from the eight sub-counties were trained ahead of a data collection exercise targeting 240 households in the county.
“The data collection exercise targets sampled households across the county. The baseline report developed after the study will inform the critical decisions and interventions to improve OSCC early detection and treatment,” added the Statement.
News of the research comes two weeks after the county received an Endoscopy machine worth Sh 4 million from an Italian based non-governmental organization to aid in the diagnosis of the cancer of the colon, stomach and the esophagus.
Speaking at the unveiling ceremony at Nyeri County Referral Hospital on July 5, Nyeri governor Mutahi Kahiga, termed the arrival of the machine a huge milestone in the fight against cancer in the county. Kahiga said that the machine would drastically reduce the cost of diagnosis. The county boss said it will also curb the reliance of residents on private facilities by easing access to cancer screening and treatment services.
“We are excited because this machine will bring down the cost of diagnosis from Sh 20,000 per session in private facilities to Sh 2,500 per session at the County Referral Hospital. It will also go a long way in helping us achieve Universal Health Coverage by ensuring our Nyeri populace is receiving affordable and good healthcare,” stated Kahiga.
By Wangari Mwangi
