Cancer burden in Turkana and Kenya at large will only be reduced if people and institutions will embrace early screening and timely treatment, health CEC Jane Ajele has said.
Speaking during the launch of cancer screening exercise on Wednesday where she ushered in the first client and launched the year 2021 cancer registers, Ajele expressed optimism that her department will beat the 14,000 persons targeted through routine facility based screening and campaigns.
Ajele said that the cancer burden in Turkana had caused hundreds of fatalities since last year.
Noting that cancer may present in various forms, Ajele called for increased levels of personal vigilance of changes in the body and early presentation to the health facilities for checkup and treatment.
Ajele added, “the county has already recruited an oncology specialist and introduced routine cancer management services at the Lodwar County referral hospital.”
On infrastructure, Ajele said that the county had already purchased a mammogram machine and trained its x-ray team on basic cancer screening to serve the local population in addition to the functional renal unit.
Ajele also decried the excessive use of tobacco, alcohol and physical inactivity as predisposing factors to cancer in Turkana County and called upon residents to shun off behaviours that may predispose them to danger of cancer.
She also said that the county has embraced use of mentorship approach to institute continuous medical education and training on basic cancer management skills among its staff.
by Peter Gitonga
