Nairobi Star (Nairobi)
John Muchangi
13 July 2011
A cancer foundation set up by Prof Anyang’ Nyong’o was launched yesterday with a call for Kenyans to seek early diagnosis for the disease.
Speakers said different studies have shown cancers can be cured if detected early, but most Kenyans are usually diagnosed in the late stages.
Chief Justice Dr Willy Mutunga called for increased vaccination of young girls to prevent cervical cancer, the second most common among Kenyan women.
He however challenged the government to invest more in health saying Kenyans have a constitutional right for proper health. “Kenya can achieve the best health delivery possible in the next 20 years,” he said in his keynote speech. The chief justice was among key guests invited to the grand launch of African Cancer Foundation, one year after the Medical Services minister was diagnosed with prostate cancer in Nairobi. “ACF will fundraise for treatment of cancer patients, promote prevention and research and root for best practice standards in the continent,” Nyong’o said.
The organisation was officially launched by Ida Odinga at a well-attended event at the Laico Regency hotel in Nairobi. Statistics in Kenya show that 50 people die daily from different forms of cancer while 18,000 new diagnoses are done each year.
Kenyatta National Hospital and the Eldoret-based Moi Referral Hospital are the only public health facilities that can treat cancer. The increasing cancer burden in Kenya is blamed on an aging population and adoption of “western” lifestyles like eating refined foods increased tobacco smoking. Yesterday, Ida also called for increased awareness about the disease and early diagnosis.
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Nyong’o Africa Cancer Foundation Launched