Kenya: Cancer kills 50 people daily

  1. Posted on Saturday 6 February 2010 - 14:35
    Muhyadin
    Muhyadin Ahmed Roble, AfricaNews reporter in Nairobi, Kenya
    Statistics in Kenya has shown that about 50 Kenyans die daily from various forms of cancers. About 80,000 cases of cancer are diagnosed each year, Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) CEO Dr Jotham Micheni announced. All patients can only use the required treatment at KNH which is the largest referral hospital in East and Central Africa.
    cancer
    All the patients can only use the required treatment at KNH which is the largest referral hospital in East and Central Africa.

    “We have very few specialists in oncology and therefore human resource for health in terms of cancer is definitely a major challenge,” Dr Micheni said.

    In Kenya only four specialized oncologists (cancer specialists) and another four Radio-Oncologists (doctors who prescribe radiotherapy) were available.

    Only one of these eight cancer specialists was specialized for children, as Dr Micheni told local media.

    “There are no cancer registries in the country and hence the actual burden of cancer is unclear. Very little research has been going on in the area of cancer,” he told.

    The doctor said the most common cancers in both men and women are those of the oesophagus, prostrate, breast and cervical cancer.

    The World Health Organisation (WHO) said that each year cancer kills more people than HIV, AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria combined.

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