This archive report was first published on 8 October 2019.
By PASCAL MWANDAMBO
October 8, 2019
Shadowed by concerted efforts to fight HIV/AIDS, cancer has emerged as the next big killer in Africa. The disease affects people of all social classes, with the poor often misdiagnosed and left to perish without proper care.
According to a report by Dr. Alice Musibi of Kemri, cancer treatment in developed countries has improved significantly, but the same cannot be said for Third World countries like Kenya. The country lacks the resources and trained personnel to provide effective cancer care.
A survey conducted at the Kenyatta National Hospital, Nairobi Hospital, and Aga Khan University Hospital reveals the financial strain faced by families of cancer patients. The average annual income in Kenya is around Sh600,000, making diagnosis and treatment a nightmare for most people.
The cost of treating cancer in Kenya is prohibitively high, with basic treatment for breast cancer costing between Sh175,000 and Sh1.89 million. The most common type of cancer in Kenya is breast cancer, with around 6,000 women and men diagnosed with the disease annually, according to the 2018 Globocan report.
Experts warn that cancer cases in Africa are likely to double by 2030, and global cases are projected to increase from 10 million in 2000 to over 15 million in 2020. This calls for governments, physicians, and health educators to take action and help people change their behavior to avoid preventable cancers.
