By Joe Kiarie
In the recent past, Kenyans have been waking up to news of high profile cancer patients in the country.
Only this week, veteran politician Martin Shikuku was admitted to a Nairobi hospital after being diagnosed with prostate cancer. Public Health Minister Beth Mugo, her Medical Services counterpart, Anyang’ Nyong’o, former chairman of the defunct Electoral Commission of Kenya, Samuel Kivuitu, East African Community Permanent Secretary, David Nalo, and various other personalities are battling with various forms of cancer.
And there is just no good news as thousands of ordinary Kenyans are also currently suffering from the illness.
Cancer’s rising status as the country’s top silent killer has now been made official, with statistics from the Department of Civil Registration (DCR) showing that the disease claimed 11,907 lives last year alone. This amounted to 10.3 per cent of the total deaths recorded in 2011, making cancer the fourth highest killer disease in the country. And the number of cancer patients could even be higher, with some medical experts noting that cancer-related complications claim up to 50 lives daily. Cancer fatalities are now almost overtaking those of Aids, which last year accounted for 12,176 (10.5 per cent) of all deaths.
According to the DCR, malaria and pneumonia topped the list, accounting for 28,360 (24.5 per cent) and 23,915 20.5 per cent of all deaths respectively. Other leading killers included tuberculosis (11,679), anaemia (8,208), the much-talked about road accidents (4,746) and heart diseases (4,745).
Dr Kimanthi Kimende, a surgeon and breast cancer specialist notes that more cancer cases are being recorded worldwide. But he attributes this to improved detection mechanisms as opposed to a rise in cancer prevalence.
“The environment is playing a major role in this since through media, more people are now aware of cancer and its symptoms and are going to doctors early. We also have proper research systems and new technologies that are helping detect the disease better as well as a cancer registry to record the cases. All these have contributed in having a high number of cancer cases,” he explains.
Kimanthi nonetheless decries the fact that most cancer patients are dying prematurely and helplessly, as they cannot afford the rather expensive cancer treatment. He says it is time the Government intervenes and saves the citizenry.
“This is a serious problem and the Government should consider subsidies. There should also be official policies that ensure that these patients get proper treatment,” he states.
In 2011, Eastern Province had the highest number of cancer casualties at 2,658 followed by Western Province with 2,011 cases, Central Province with 1,630 and Nyanza with 1,469.
While the late Nobel Laureate Prof Wangari Maathai was among the key cancer casualties last year, the disease has already claimed key figures this year. Among them is former Environment minister John Michuki, his Defence counterpart Njenga Karume and former National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) vice- chairperson Mary Onyango.
Over the years, the cancer situation has been worsening in most parts of the world as many patients remain unscreened, undiagnosed and in other cases inadequately treated due to the high cost of chemotherapy.
For those who can afford treatment, the illness has been eating away their finances and investments, with the Government coming under heavy criticism for not investing much in cancer treatment.
