This archive report was first published on 26 July 2021.
Published on July 26, 2021, a day when the nation was battling a deadly pandemic, cancer patients at the Coast were the forgotten lot.
Many lead a miserable life due to lack of treatment, which wears them down and induces a powerful sense of hopelessness, sometimes amounting to despair.
From misdiagnosis, shortage of drugs to poor medical infrastructure, it’s a cycle of pain and suffering.
Speaking to the Nation at the Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital (CGTRH) at the weekend, patients urged the national government to intervene and save lives.
The patients want the government to equip the hospital and ensure there are enough cancer specialists and drugs.
They also lamented the high cost of treatment, which has left thousands without medical care, just waiting to die at home.
Ms Saumu Mbarak, a cervical cancer patient, said it was difficult for her to allow doctors to remove her uterus due to the many challenges she anticipated.
Ms Mbarak urged patients not to give up on treatment, citing the challenges she faced after her uterus was removed.
Coast Hospice programmes manager, Mr Erick Hamisi, urged the cancer task force led by Dr Miriam Mutebi to ensure the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) caters for treatment from screening, diagnosis to palliative care.
Mr Hamisi also cited lack of clear referral channels as another challenge and urged the government to partner with the private sector and community health workers to sensitise Kenyans on the disease and where to seek treatment.
The task force regretted that patients are often diagnosed when the cancer is at an advanced stage and do not usually complete their treatment.
Dr Mutebi said the fact that one has to pay out of pocket has locked out many patients, but NHIF has helped to mitigate some of those costs.
The task force toured called for strengthening of healthcare systems to ensure primary providers conduct screening, early detection and timely referrals.
It also identified social-cultural barriers to diagnosis and stigmatisation as major challenges.
Dr Mutebi said nobody wants to talk about their diagnosis, but they have good reasons, citing discrimination and stigmatisation as barriers.
