This archive report was first published on 3 July 2020.
On 1st August 2019, President Uhuru Kenyatta directed the Ministry of Health to develop a cancer policy to address the growing burden of the disease in Kenya.
The Kenya Cancer Policy 2019-2030 provides a framework for managing cancer through evidence-based interventions in care.
While launching the policy and breast cancer pilot report, CAS Dr Rashid Aman emphasized the Ministry's efforts to improve access to cancer services in line with the Universal Health Coverage agenda.
"Through the Managed Equipment Service (MES), the Ministry has availed x-ray, CT-SCAN equipment, ultrasound and mammography machines to the counties to boost cancer diagnosis," Dr Aman said.
The Ministry has established 10 county chemotherapy centres, which are operational and fully functional, and has continued to support these centres with cancer drugs, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dr Aman also announced the operationalization of the Kenyatta University Teaching Referral and Research Hospital and the establishment of five additional radiotherapy centres in various counties.
The Ministry has also launched the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine to prevent cervical cancer, targeting 10-year-old girls.
According to the "Breast Health Awareness Campaign," Breast Cancer is the leading type of cancer in Kenya, with about 6,000 new cases every year.
