The plight of cancer patients in Kenya

I was very happy with the media coverage of the World Cancer Day on Wednesday February 4. All the major newspapers had articles and features on cancer, including extensive and frank analyses of the status of cancer patients and cancer treatment in Kenya. Both The Daily Nation and The Standard went further with editorials appealing for enhancing awareness campaigns on cancer and establishing better treatment in public hospitals in our country. And this is where I want to begin today.

You may not believe it but I am a victim of lack of awareness regarding cancer. A reasonably well educated African male who has been in public life for almost half his life became the Minister for Medical Services in Kenya in 2008. That was me. About a year after that I started going to the toilet to pass water rather too often. I went to see my doctor who immediately subjected me to a urine retention test. The result, he told me, was not really bad but he must have subscribed one or two drugs the details of which I cannot really now remember.