MTRH/ Uasin Gishu County Mark World Cancer Day 2023
Moi Teaching & Referral Hospital (MTRH, with the County Government of Uasin Gishu( UG) today joined the rest of the world in marking the annual World Cancer Day.
MTRH Management, Staff, UG County, and residents walked from the Hospital through Eldoret Town to the Nandi Gardens for Cancer Awareness and Sensitization of the Public/ Citizenry. This year’s event was marked under the theme: “Close the Care Gap.”
The walk was led by the CEO MTRH Dr. Wilson K. Aruasa, MBS, EBS, and the CEC-M for Health Uasin Gishu County, Dr. Sammy Kotut, who represented the Governor, Uasin Gishu County, H.E Jonathan Bii.
The most common causes of cancer deaths globally are Lung, Liver, Colorectal, Stomach, and Breast. Among Non-Communicable Disease-related deaths, cancer is the second leading cause of death accounting for 7% of overall national mortality after cardiovascular diseases. A bulk of the deaths do occur in the Low, Middle-Income Countries, Kenya included.
The leading cancers in Kenya in women are; cervical, breast and esophagus while in men, prostate, Kaposi sarcoma, and oesophagus are the most common. In children, blood cancers lead.
In his speech, the CEO Dr. Aruasa, said the Hospital, through the Government of Kenya (GoK), has made robust investments for the screening, treatment, and management of all cancers adding that no Kenyan needs to travel outside the country for specialized cancer treatment.
He strongly discouraged the use of alcohol and other forms of drugs noting that they either cause or catalyze the development of cancers.
Dr. Beatrice Melly, the Ag. The director of Haemato-Oncology added that the Hospital offers to stop Oncology Services. She added that this year, the conversation is about closing the gap in access to care in oncology; through education and sensitization.
MTRH offers the following Oncology services; Haemato-Oncology, radiation oncology, surgical oncology, chemotherapy, brachytherapy, cancer screening, counseling, day-care blood transfusion, and palliative care in addition to cancer research and oncology training. The Hospital also offers free screening for breast and cervical cancer.
The CEC-M Health, Dr. Sammy Kotut said the County will continue its partnership with MTRH in primary healthcare including screening for cancers.
He reiterated the need for sustained public health education on the contributing factors for cancer and the need for a change in lifestyle to a much healthier lifestyle.
Dr. Aruasa added that most Cancers can be prevented through prevention and early detection adding that the Hospital sees 16,000 cases annually.
Dr. Aruasa thanked the Government for its Universal Healthcare innovation targeting the indigent population.
The GoK support includes training, research, and resource support – including Human Resources for Health – with regard to Cancer awareness and management.
“The Government will expedite the construction of the new International Multi-Speciality MTRH at Kiplombe, Eldoret, where Oncology (both Adult and Pediatric Oncology) will have its own Centre of Excellence.
He also thanked the Government of France through the GoK for their support of liver cancer surgeries and high-level equipping of MTRH Riley Mother & Baby Hospital, Shoe4Africa Children Hospital, and the Laundry department.
The Governor, Uasin Gishu County Jonathan Bii in a speech read by CEC Health, committed to closing the existing gaps in Human Resources for Health, improving the existing infrastructure, and ensuring the existence of sufficient pharmaceutical products as well as strengthening primary healthcare.
Other partners in attendance included; Moi University School of Medicine by Dr. Evangeline Njiru and dozens of senior Medical Students; Indiana University represented by Jennifer Morgan;Safaricom, represented by Brenda Chesingei Territory Manager; Eldoret Hospice represented by Dr. Claudio Owino and Jamah Mohamud; Eldoret Oncology Associates; Alexandria Cancer Centre, Coca Cola; Faraja Cancer Support Trust; Salvation Army; AMPATH; the Media & Solace Cancer Community Based Organization; MTRH College of Medicine; Kenya Medical Training College(KMTC), Eldoret;
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