Health NGO Partners with Embu County to Fight Cervical Cancer

Embu, Saturday, July 01, 2023

by Samuel Waititu

A Health NGO, Kilele Health Association has partnered with the County Government of Embu in the fight against cervical cancer through awareness creation, early detection, screening and timely treatment. 

Through the program dubbed "Thamani Yetu" set to run for three years, the non-profit organization projects to screen 40, 000 women for the disease and also offer life-saving HPV vaccine for the girls aged between 10 and 14. 

Organization Executive Director Benda Kithaka noted that cervical cancer was the leading cause of death in women for cancers in the country with an annual mortality of 3,200 cases while 5,200 new cases are reported every year. 

Speaking in Embu Friday during a sensitization workshop for healthcare workers, Ms. Kithaka said their desire was to cascade the partnership to other counties after piloting in Embu to get more women protected against the disease. 

She said the disease was 100 percent preventable if detected early and thus there was need to do more advocacy to make families aware of risk factors, prevention elements, access to screening and treatment. 

She also said they will train 30 healthcare workers who will in turn be trainers of trainees who will serve as agents of change to help the county build capacity for prevention, early detection and timely treatment. 

The director added that they also hope to build a team of survivors to act as navigators to people in need of further treatment and follow-ups as well as inspire hope and engage communities for cancer prevention. 

County Medical Services Chief Officer, Jane Karimi, said 300 women were diagnosed with the disease and 100 put under treatment out of 5,500 women screened between July last year and May this year. 

She also reported that 37 percent of young girls had been vaccinated against HPV and hoped they will reach more in the new partnership with Kilele Health Association. 

The officer added that in the new deal, they plan to turn Ishiara Level 4 Hospital in Mbeere North Sub-county into a center of excellence in management and treatment of cancer. 

The hospital neighbors Kitui and Tharaka Nithi counties and is poised to greatly assist patients from the three counties. 

Cervical Cancer Survivor Christine Maloba who was diagnosed in 2015 encouraged women to go for regular screening even when they don't exhibit any signs.

This, she said, will go a long way in early detection of the disease which makes it easy to be treated.

Courtesy ; K. N. A