West Pokot County on Tuesday joined the rest of the world in commemorating World Cancer Day, with county health officials calling for strengthened partnerships, early detection, and people-centered approaches to reduce the growing cancer burden.
The day was highlighted by a solidarity march through the streets of Makutano town, bringing together healthcare practitioners, development partners, and key stakeholders to raise awareness and demonstrate collective commitment to the fight against cancer.
Speaking during the event, the County Executive Committee (CEC) Member for Health Claire Parklea said the annual commemoration, marked globally on February 4, serves to raise awareness, improve education, promote early detection, and inspire action against cancer.
This year’s global theme, “United by Unique,” underscores the fact that while every cancer journey is personal, the response must be collective.
The CEC noted that cancer remains one of the leading causes of death both globally and in Kenya.
According to the GLOBOCAN report, more than 47,000 new cancer cases are diagnosed annually in Kenya, while over 32,000 people die from the disease each year. These figures, she said, translate into real human suffering, as nearly every Kenyan family is directly or indirectly affected.
“In counties like West Pokot, the cancer burden has for a long time remained hidden,” the CEC said. “Many cases go undiagnosed, people suffer in silence, and families endure devastating losses because screening and specialized services have not always been accessible,” he added.
To address these challenges, the County Department of Health, in collaboration with development partners, conducted cancer prevention and screening activities at Kapenguria County Referral Hospital from January 31 to February 4, 2026, in the lead-up to World Cancer Day.
During the exercise, residents accessed cervical cancer screening for eligible women, prostate cancer screening for men at risk, breast cancer screening and clinical breast examinations, as well as HPV vaccination for eligible girls to prevent future cervical cancer.
The CEC emphasized that early detection and prevention remain the most effective tools in reducing cancer-related illness and deaths, noting that timely diagnosis not only saves lives but also lowers treatment costs and improves quality of life.
She commended the West Pokot County Government for prioritizing cancer prevention and control under its Universal Health Coverage agenda, and praised the County Health Management Team for its leadership and coordination.
Appreciation was also extended to development partners, civil society organizations, faith-based institutions, and healthcare workers for their role in resource mobilization, community outreach, and service delivery.
As the county marked World Cancer Day, residents were urged to adopt healthy lifestyles, seek timely screening and vaccination, support early diagnosis and treatment, and work towards reducing the stigma associated with cancer.
“Cancer is preventable, cancer is treatable, and cancer can be defeated—if we act together,” the CEC said, calling on all stakeholders to remain united in building a healthier, cancer-aware West Pokot County.
Chrisantus Wekesa, an official from National Cancer Institute of Kenya (NCI-K), expressed concern over the state of cancer prevention and management in West Pokot County, noting that last year, the county was still far behind in the fight against the disease.
Wekesa said that the institution visited West Pokot last year to assess the county’s progress in combating cancer and their findings revealed major gaps, prompting plans to officially launch strengthening cancer control initiatives in the county.
He explained that global and national data show that many Kenyans are diagnosed with cancer at very late stages, making the disease one of the leading causes of death among patients.
He emphasized that cancer is treatable and, in many cases, curable if detected early. “Early diagnosis allows patients to access treatment in time. The challenge we are facing is that many people seek medical attention when the cancer has already advanced,” Wekesa noted.
He added that the National Cancer Institute of Kenya conducts sensitization campaigns across the country to educate the public about cancer, encouraging early screening and testing especially among men and women aged 40 years and above.
According to Wekesa, individuals diagnosed early could receive timely treatment, while those found at later stages could still be guided on care and management options.
Wekesa disclosed that the institute would be camping in West Pokot County for an extended period to conduct cancer awareness and sensitization programs aimed at reducing the burden of cancer in the region.
On cervical cancer, he highlighted the World Health Organization’s (WHO) global “90-70-90 strategy adopted, which seeks to eliminate cervical cancer as a public health problem.
He noted that during a five-day free cancer screening exercise in West Pokot, over 5000 girls were screened for Human Papillomavirus (HPV), calling it a major milestone in the fight against cervical cancer.
He urged other counties to emulate West Pokot’s efforts, pointing out that there were only four years remaining before the global target timeline for eliminating cervical cancer.
He called on county governments and partners to intensify their support in cervical cancer prevention and screening.
In his remarks, Dr. Samson Ndege, a technical advisor affiliated with AMPATH, a programme of Moi University and Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital said that AMPATH primarily runs HIV/AIDS programmes but integrates care for chronic diseases, including cancer.
Dr Ndege noted that people living with HIV/AIDS have a higher risk of developing certain cancers and other chronic illnesses.
He emphasized the importance of integrating services so that patients seeking HIV treatment at county health facilities could also be screened for cancer, hypertension, diabetes, and other chronic conditions.
He urged the public to understand that going for cancer screening does not mean one has cancer, but rather helps in early detection.
By Parklea Ivor & Anthony Melly
