In a powerful show of unity and purpose, nine spouses of county governors convened in Kapenguria under the County First Ladies association to launch a bold campaign, calling for action to eliminate cervical cancer by 2030.
The event, hosted by West Pokot First Lady Scovia Kachapin, underscored the collective resolve of the first ladies to champion women’s health and end the disease that is both preventable and curable.
Speaking at the event, Mrs Kachapin emphasised that cervical cancer remains the second most common cancer among women in Kenya, claiming 3,200 lives annually.
She noted, “These lives are not faceless statistics but are mothers, daughters, and sisters whose loss weakens families and communities.”
A recurring theme from all the speakers was the urgent need to increase uptake of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine among girls aged 9 to 14 years.
They argued that the vaccine, which is provided free of charge in Kenya, can prevent up to 90 per cent of cervical cancer cases when administered before exposure to the virus.
Mrs Kachapin decried the misinformation surrounding the vaccine, such as fears about infertility or safety, saying, “These myths are unfounded; science has shown beyond doubt that the vaccine is both safe and effective. Over 100 million girls worldwide have received it safely.”
She stressed the economic and social burden of cervical cancer on families, noting that many households are pushed into poverty due to the high cost of treatment.
“When a mother or sister battles this disease, the whole community suffers,” she said.
Marsabit First Lady and Chair of the County First Ladies Association, Mrs Alamitu Jattani, praised the Kenyan government’s efforts to make the HPV vaccine available and emphasised the role of the Community Health Promoters (CHPs) in spreading awareness and reaching households.
She urged parents to give consent for school-based vaccinations and called on women to unite in supporting the health of vulnerable groups.
On her part, Kisumu County First Lady Dorothy Nyong’o described the HPV vaccine as a “lifetime gift” for children and encouraged annual cancer screening as a self-care measure.
Citing the success of Rwanda’s HPV vaccination programme, she called for a similar commitment in Kenya and lauded the Africa Cancer Foundation (ACF) for screening over 35,000 Kenyans.
Nyamira First Lady Emily Nyaribo encouraged parents to give consent for their daughters to receive the vaccine at school and stressed the importance of hospital visits for vaccination.
Bungoma First Lady Dr. Margaret Lusaka echoed the sentiments, stating that every parent and leader must take responsibility to ensure girls aged nine-14 years are vaccinated.
She proudly noted Bungoma was recently ranked second best performing in the fight against cervical cancer.
The event, which brought together First Ladies from Nairobi, Bomet, Migori, Uasin Gishu, Turkana, Bungoma, Kisumu, and Nyamira counties, was not just ‘another gathering’.
On the contrary, it served as a call to action for communities, parents, leaders, and health workers to combat cervical cancer through vaccination, regular screening and accurate information.
By Anthony Melly
