Lillian Natembeya Hosts 13 First Ladies from Region,Asks Men to be Faithful
County first ladies from the Lake Region have asked men to be faithful to their partners as one of the ways of containing cervical cancer.
The women leaders also asked the youth to abstain from sex saying engaging in erotic activities early is another risk factor for the disease.
Led by Trans Nzoia first lady Lillian Natembeya, they said concerted efforts are required in fighting the menace.
Mrs. Natembeya spoke on Wednesday when she led the County in launching a cervical cancer awareness campaign.
Present were Trans Nzoia Deputy Governor Philomena Kapkory, Emily Nyaribo(Nyamira),Janet Barasa,(Kakamega),Betty Mutai(Kericho),sally Barchok(Bomet),Trans Nzoia health CEC Pepela Wanjala, Health chief officer Emmanuel Wanjala, Governance Chief officer Sammy Sichangi, area MCA Joshua Amwayi among others.
Mrs. Natembeya regretted that the current statistics in Trans Nzoia show that one out of 11 women is cervical cancer positive.
She said there is need for early cancer screening which can help in treating and fully managing the disease.
“Early cancer screening is the most effective approach to contain the disease. In late stages, treatment can be expensive with little chance to defeat the disease,” said Natembeya.
She asked men to facilitate their wives and daughters to undergo screening, a service that is provided for free in all public health facilities.
According to Nyaribo, the block chair, the first ladies are optimistic about containing the disease by 2030.
She asked MCAs in the region to pass laws ensuring that first lady offices have appropriate budgets to facilitate their activities.
Janet Barasa said cervical cancer is sexually transmitted although it does not infect men, but they carry and eventually transmit it to their wives.
Mutai asked parents to encourage and guide young girls between the ages of 10 and 15 to undergo HPV vaccination. This completely prevents disease infection.
Kapkory said apart from cancer menace, female Genital mutilation, Gender Based Violence and early pregnancies are other major factors facing women in the area.
She urged first ladies to incorporate climate change in their activities to help in reversing damages caused by human activities in eroding the environment.
During the function, HPV vaccination, HIV counseling and testing and family planning services were provided for free.
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