Nine in every 10 persons with esophagal cancer will succumb to the disease, the Ministry of Health has said.
Nine women die every day due to cervical cancer while the majority of people diagnosed with cancer will succumb to the disease due to late diagnosis.
The Health CS Susan Wafula on Thursday said approximately 70 per cent of cases are diagnosed in advanced stages when a cure is almost impossible.
The CS spoke during the official opening of the National Cancer Summit at Safari Park.
“Cancer bears an immense cost to the nation due to the years of life lost as a result of premature deaths, lost productivity and the long-term effects of cancer and its treatment on the quality of life of survivors,” she said.
“In addition, families suffer financial catastrophe as a result of the high costs associated with accessing comprehensive cancer care services,” she added.
According to the ministry, cancer remains a major public health concern in our country and is the third leading cause of death in Kenya.
In 2020, the country reported 42,000 new cancer cases and 27,000 cancer-related deaths.
The top five cancers according to the ministry include breast, cervix, prostate, oesophagus and non - Hodgkin's lymphoma and account for nearly half (48 per cent) of the cancer burden in the country.
The CS noted that the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) programme has identified cancer as a priority focus area to accelerate access to care services with a reduced financial burden.
“In this regard, we have continued to strengthen our primary health care services to offer affordable cancer screening and early detection services that are critical to early cancer diagnosis,” the CS said.
Through collaborations with county governments, the government enhanced access to cancer screening through the training of primary health workers and the distribution of screening equipment to health facilities across the country.
