The Ministry of Health will focus on cancer prevention and control in the new plan unveiled on Friday.
The 2023-2027 strategic plan also seeks to address the challenge of stigma that has made many patients to fear to come out and seek treatment.
The plan will also see the ministry increase the country’s capacity for a skilled multi-disciplinary team of oncologists across all levels of care.
The implementation of the strategy will require Sh49.2 billion over the next five years.
A total of Sh2.3 billion will be required for screening programmes, Sh1.6 billion to combat childhood cancers and 13.5 billion for adulthood cancers.
Key on the agenda is to reduce premature deaths from cancer in Kenya by a third by the year 2028.
According to the head of the National Cancer Control Programme at the ministry Mary Nyangasi, 42,000 new cases of cancer are diagnosed in the country annually with 27,000 deaths being reported.
“We're looking at scaling up cancer diagnosis so that all 47 counties, all county referral facilities should actually be able to do diagnostic biopsies for cancer patients,” Nyangasi said.
“The goal is to provide quality and equitable cancer prevention and early detection services to reduce the preventable burden of cancer,” she added.
This will also see the ministry focus on reducing exposure to modifiable cancer risk factors and addressing underlying social and environmental determinants.
This will include creating awareness of the dangers of tobacco use and associated products from 13.3 per cent to seven per cent by 2028 and reducing the prevalence of alcohol use from 19 per cent to 10 per cent by 2028.
“We are seeking to increase the diversity and capacity of the health workforce and healthcare service delivery systems for cancer screening and early diagnosis."
A survey conducted between August and September 2020 found that most women found with breast abnormalities after ultrasound and mammography tests are never referred for diagnosis.
The health facilities — mostly health centres and Level 4 hospitals — do not even follow up on them, though some of the abnormalities are likely to be early-stage cancer.
The ministry surveyed 439 facilities, all with ultrasound, to identify gaps in breast cancer management.
Cancer is the third leading cause of death in the country after infectious diseases and cardiovascular diseases.
