Tuesday, February 07, 2012

Cancer Seems To Have Made High-End Kenya A Permanent Home

Entrepreneur and former Minister, Njenga Karume is the latest prominent Kenyan to be put down by cancer. Cancer which the US National Cancer Institute defines as " a term used for diseases in which abnormal cells divide without control and are able to invade other tissues. Cancer cells can spread to other parts of the body through the blood and lymph systems. Cancer is not just one disease but many diseases. There are more than 100 different types of cancer. Most cancers are named for the organ or type of cell in which they start - for example, cancer that begins in the colon is called colon cancer; cancer that begins in basal cells of the skin is called basal cell carcinoma."


It was only a short while ago that Public Health Minister, Hon. Beth Mugo came out to announce that she is recovering well from breast cancer and probably a year ago, it was her Medical Services colleague, Hon. Prof. Anyang Nyon'go who reported that he had successfully battled with prostate cancer. A leading city marketer and newspaper columnist Jerry Okungu is recovering from the same type of cancer. 


I do recall at the time the good Professor was going public about his case, he was widely acclaimed as brave because African dont make public their disease, especially so if you are a leader. He broke some ground there and as a result we now see many other publicly admitting and telling it all. That is how Hon. Mugo, Mr. Okungu, the late Maathai's family and now Njenga Karume's family are able to come out and say that they are suffering from or their beloved has succumbed from a specific cancer . 


Early last year I was seething mad at the Minister for whinning and doing nothing, but I am glad to note that he did not let me down and soon thereafter set up the African Cancer Foundation (ACF) and it was during Foundation's launch that Kenya was introduced to the ever bubbly ten year old leukaemia patient, Rose Nasimiyu who went on to win the nation's heart with her brave demeanour in the face of a disease that not many in her age bracket would understand.  


According to the ACF website, the Foundation "was formed on April 6th, 2011 as a charitable Trust and incorporated in Kenya on June 15th, 2011. ACF seeks to mobilise resources, carry out research, create awareness and provide services for the prevention, management and treatment of cancer in Africa. It also seeks to establish best practice standards and promote exchange of experience with existing centres of excellence around the world, thereby reducing the knowledge gaps between the Global North and South." The foundation is led by Zawadi Nyon'go, the minister daughter and from the look of things they will achieve their mission plus more. I wish them luck. 


Last year, our very own and world renowned Wangari Maathai was felled by the ovarian variation of the disease, so was author and paediatrician Dr. Margaret Ogolla,  Court of Appeal Judge Justice Moijo ole Keiwua and hundreds of other not so prominent Kenyans whose trysts with the disease happened far from the media glare. According to KBC, "doctors are warning that cancer has reached epidemic proportions with developing countries such as Kenya bearing the brunt of the disease due to lack of knowledge, capacity for screening, early detection, diagnosis and treatment. It is estimated that there are more than 18,000 new cases of cancer every year, with experts saying that more cases go un-diagnosed because of victims' ignorance and lack of access to medical facilities." 

There has been in existence since 1995, the Kenya Cancer Assocation led by Dr. Siele. "KCA is a voluntary run non profit making organization established in Kenya in 1995 after recognition that Cancer was emerging as a leading cause of death in the country. Its core mandate is to raise public awareness on Cancer as well as mobilize and lobby stakeholders including the Government to prioritize Cancer in their programs" Actually there is a proposed Cancer Control Bill which is lined up for presentation to Parliament soon. 


That cancer does not respect the mighty and powerful is evident in far away South America, where former Brazilian president Lula has suffered from throat cancer, Argentine President- Cristina Kirchner from thyroid cancer, Venezuelan Hugo Chavez has also been undergoing cancer treatment for some time.


A recent movie I watched called "50/50" about a   young man’s struggle with cancer shows that fear of the disease is greater than the disease itself. 


My humble prayer is that the thousands of poor Kenyan's who suffer from cancer are able to access quality medical care and advice and diagnosis happens early enough to ensure many fully recover from the disease.