This archive report was first published on 3 August 2019.
On August 3, 2019, the Council of Governors Chairman Wycliffe Oparanya urged President Uhuru Kenyatta to declare cancer a national disaster, following the recent deaths of several high-profile individuals, including Bomet Governor Dr Joyce Laboso, Kibra MP Ken Okoth, and Safaricom former CEO Bob Collymore.
According to Mr Oparanya, cancer is most prevalent in Kisumu, Kakamega, Nyeri, Nakuru, Bomet, and Uasin-Gishu counties, as reported by the National Cancer Institute of Kenya.
The key challenge in addressing cancer, Mr Oparanya said, is the cost implication it has on the victims, with patients paying between Sh500 to Sh1, 000 per session for radiotherapy in state-run hospitals and chemotherapy costs ranging from Sh6, 000 to Sh600, 000, depending on the drug used.
"Patients pay between Sh500 to Sh1, 000 per session for radiotherapy in state-run hospitals while chemotherapy costs Sh6, 000 to Sh600, 000, depending on the drug used. This is not achievable for the average Kenyan and we need to rethink these costs," the Kakamega governor said.
President Kenyatta responded to the governors' call by announcing plans to increase funding on cancer management and build treatment centres to alleviate the suffering of people affected by the disease.
Mr Kenyatta said cancer specialists will also be trained and posted to work in the centres, which will be upgraded to reduce the number of people seeking treatment abroad.
