Embu Kanu branch has requested the government to declare cancer a national disaster and standardise the treatment.
Speaking to Star on Tuesday, Kanu vice chairperson Florence Wanjiku said the government has become reluctant in the fight against cancer since the Covid-19 outbreak.
The party said the state has failed to strike a balance between fighting Covid-19 and cancer diseases, something she said needs urgent improvement.
Florence said this after Kanu lost one of its life members and youth leader Patrick Njuki who died from throat cancer.
Wanjiku further said that the government should set aside special funding account to protect Kenyans from cancer.
“I would urge the government to emphasise on the health and, more so, on cancer disease which has left most families poor and in grief,” she said.
She added that Kenyans have been going through difficult periods in search of cancer treatment, with most losing their properties.
According to a report, cancer is the third leading cause of death after infectious and cardiovascular diseases.
The report from International Agency for Research on Cancer and World Health Organisation shows that a total of 19,292,789 new cancer cases were reported and a total of 9,958,133 deaths reported in 2020 worldwide.
East African countries reported a total of 331,233 new cases and a total of 222,189 deaths in the same year.
Kenya reported a total of 42,116 new cancer cases in 2020 and a total of 27,092 deaths as a result.
“We are losing our people due to lack of enough funds to cater for the cancer curing processes and this calls for government intervention," Wanjiku said.
"National Health Insurance Funds Committee should ensure it improves the services for cancer patients in the country for each one to afford."
She said for Kenyans to emerge victorious in the fight against cancer, the government, through NHIF, should ensure cancer treatment is affordable.
(edited by Amol Awuor)
