The Ministry of Health has stepped up efforts to raise awareness on the National Cancer Control Strategy 2017-2022. Through a series of regional workshops targeting county health management teams, the Ministry of Health is undertaking consultative training initiatives in various parts of the country to sensitise county stakeholders on implementing interventions captured in the strategy.
The National Cancer Control Strategy (NCCS) 2017-2022, is a framework geared at reducing cancer incidences, morbidity, mortality, while increasing survival rates in Kenya through access to population-based primary prevention, early detection, quality diagnostics, treatment and palliative care services by the year 2022.
Speaking in Kisumu at a Regional Dissemination workshop for Lake Basin Counties, the Deputy Governor of Kisumu county Dr Mathew Owili, who was accompanied by the first lady Mrs Dorothy Nyongo, reiterated their commitment to establish a regional cancer centre with the support of partners that will ensure the residents have access to the much needed cancer treatment and follow-up services.
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The Head of the National Cancer Control Programme at the Ministry of Health, Dr Anne Ng’ang’a, said the Ministry is rolling out the National Cancer Control Strategy (NCCS) 2017-2022 dissemination workshops countrywide aimed at reversing the cancer burden in Kenya.
While thanking Janssen Pharmaceuticals, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson and a specialist oncology pharmaceutical solutions provider for their support, Dr Ng’ang’a said this support will complement ongoing governmental efforts to raise further awareness on the strategy countrywide.
Janssen, a member of the Kenya Association of Pharmaceutical Industry (KAPI) will support dissemination workshops organized by the Ministry of Health for county health management teams.
Johnson & Johnson, East Africa Government Affairs and Policy Director, Ms Idah Asin, pledged the firm’s support for awareness building initiatives geared at facilitating a speedy adoption of the strategy by various stakeholders.
The strategy addresses the whole cancer ecosystem from prevention to survivorship and has 5 pillars namely: Prevention, Early Detection and Screening, Diagnosis, Registration and Surveillance, Treatment, Palliative Care and Survivorship, Coordination, Partnership and Financing and Monitoring, Evaluation and Research.
Cancer is one of the major non-communicable diseases in Kenya and ranks third as a cause of death after infectious diseases and cardiovascular diseases. It is estimated that there are 40,000 new cases annually and approximately 28,000 cancer related deaths every year. More than 70% of cancer cases are diagnosed at late stage when treatment outcomes are poor and palliative care is usually the only management amenable.
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