Running head: Cancer situation in Kenya.

Executive summary.

In Kenya cancer is ranked 3rd as the cause of death after cardiovascular diseases and infectious

diseases. It causes 6% of total national deaths per year. In Kenya the risk of dying of cancer is

estimated at 13%. Development of this report reflects the commitment of different sectors,

institutions and bodies to reducing the prevalence of cancer. The report aims to build good

framework for cancer control and prevention mechanisms in both public and private sectors

through investing in human resource, cancer awareness, surveillance, equipments and research.

The report therefore illustrates comprehensive interventions to be adopted by the government

and other institutions to enhance the already structures and add more resources to address the

problem posed by cancer.

Introduction.

Cancer is a group of diseases in which cells uncontrollably grow, this causes destruction of

adjacent tissues and even spread to other parts of the body. Majority of cancers form a tumor.

Successful cancer control; and prevention requires a multi-disciplinary and multi-sectoral

involvement in attempt to tackle challenges caused by cancer. It is of this reason other

government departments, institutions of higher education, civil societies, private sector ,

development partners and Kenyans are called upon to join in the this initiative against cancer.

Primarily in Kenya, The National Cancer Strategy is an action by the Ministry of Health in

attempt to prioritize cancer control and prevention.

Cancer situation in Kenya.

In Kenya, cancer comes in third position as a cause of death after cardiovascular diseases and

other infectious diseases .It is estimated to cause 6% of total national deaths per year and annual

incidence of cancer is also estimated to be about 29,000 cases and annual deaths to be exceeding
Cancer situation In Kenya 2

23, 00.(Maiyoh, 2019, p. 431-46). Majority of those affected are below the age of 69 years. The

risk of getting cancer in Kenya before age of 76 years is 15% while else the probability of dying

of cancer is projected to be at 12%. The rapid increase in cancer cases in Kenya, is because of a

great rise in exposure to causative factors like, abusive use of alcohol, tobacco use, and exposure

to carcinogens in the environment. (Hill, J. A .etl 2016, p, 23). Common cancers in women are

cervical, breast and esophagus cancers. Among men, Kaposi sarcoma, prostate and esophagus

are the leading cancers. Data from the Nairobi Cancer Registry, of the total cancer cases reported

breast cancer accounted for 24.5%, prostate cancer 9.6%, cervical cancer 20%. IN 2007, around

2435 women were diagnosed with cervical cancer and 62% of them died of the disease.

Traditionally health systems in the country have put much effort on the control and prevention of

communicable diseases. As result they have been inadequate health and development strategies

in the prevention and control of cancer. Based on cancer registry at KEMRI (a research

institution) about 82% of registered cancer case are diagnosed at vey advanced stages where little

can be done.

Role of stakeholders in prevention and control of cancer in Kenya.

The government under the ministry of Health has come up with a strategy that aims to support

the existing health systems in Kenya so enhance prevention and control of cancer in private and

public sectors. This is through controlling factors regarded to cause cancer, research and

investing in cancer control human resource. The strategy emphasizes on the need to prevent

cancer mostly the ones related to smoking and other controllable factors. Adequate education,

advocacy and health promotion will allow the government and other stakeholders to enhance

awareness on cancer. This will empower the general public, to adopt healthier lifestyles and

enable doctors to recognize cancer symptoms and also identify persons at risk or already living
Cancer situation In Kenya 3

with cancer. This aims to improve early detection of cancer by enlarging available screening

programmes. The private sector has been advised to increase funds in research on cancer with

condition with institutions of higher learning and research institutions. The legislative arm

government has also been up in coming up with laws that could help in combatting cancer.

Obstacles preventing application of systems that work to prevent and control cancer.

One of the factors making it hard have a good system to prevent and control cancer in Kenya is

the health disparity across the counties of Kenya. Most of the counties health infrastructure are

not to the standards that can be used to diagnose cancer. Facilities like pediatric oncologic

departments are very scarce. The health facilities are under equipped and under staffed. Kenya

currently has low number of personnel and only 11 facilities can treat cancer, this are two

mission hospitals, six private hospitals and 3 public institutions. This makes it challenge to

unveil a system that can be used to prevent and control cancer. Research institutions are under

equipped with staff and technology to research on cancer. This makes difficult to track the

prognosis of cancer in patients. The high cost of treatment and testing prevents cancer patients to

seek services to diagnose the disease. Low level of information about cancer among Kenyans

and lack of efficient cancer policies in the country also plays as a setback in fight against cancer.

Conclusion.

The impact which cancer causes is very great than even the number of cases that are reported.

Regardless of the stage of cancer, cancer is said to be life threatening with more than two thirds

of patients experiencing depression and anxiety. Cancer is very stressful to both family and

individual patient. The prevalence of cancer in Kenya has been on arise, claiming more lives

than expected. They have been pressure to the government to give it status of National disaster

so more resources could be channeled to combat the disease. Kenyan govern government has
Cancer situation In Kenya 4

come up with measures to prevent and control disease, though they are not adequate to solve the

problem. The country still faces challenges I implementing its strategy in combating cancer.

Some of the obstacles includes, the cost of diagnosing cancer, limited knowledge on cancer,

limited infrastructure, and low number of medical professionals and lack of the relevant

technology to research on cancer.

Recommendations.

 Increasing the number of available screening facilities.

 Educating the citizens on the potential factors and environmental carcinogens that cause

cancer.

 Giving mental and financial support to cancer patients.

 Increasing research on cancer and teaching more professional on the sector

 .Recommending for regular cancer checkups to enhance early detection for diagnosis and

treatment.

 Formulating policies that could guide in prevention and control of cancer in the law.

References.

Hill, J. A., Kimani, K., White, A., Barasa, F., Livingstone, M., Gallie, B. L., & Dimaras, H.

(2016). Achieving optimal cancer outcomes in East Africa through multidisciplinary

partnership: a case study of the Kenyan National Retinoblastoma Strategy group.

Globalization and health, 12(1), 23.

Maiyoh, G. K., & Tuei, V. C. (2019). Rising cancer incidence and role of the evolving diet in

Kenya. Nutrition and cancer, 71(4), 531-