Search for treatment is no walk in the park for patients

When her mother was diagnosed with cancer of the cervix last year, they made frantic efforts to raise funds for treatment.

For Lydia Kosgei, a resident of Uasin Gishu County, this was a trying moment for the family.

“The diagnosis came as a surprise to the family, after getting results at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) in Eldoret, we were referred to Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) which is the only public facility that offers radiotherapy,” said Ms Kosgei.

They were oblivious of the treatment challenges that awaited them at KNH including long queues and booking procedure.

Uncertainty

“We were informed that if our mother was to undergo radiotherapy, she had to be booked on the long list of patients and the earliest she would begin treatment was next year, that was a blow to us,” she said.

Faced with uncertainty over treatment, they travelled back to Eldoret to explore alternative avenues.

Currently, their mother is undergoing treatment at Manu Chandaria Cancer and Chronic Diseases Centre at MTRH commissioned in 2015.

“Life is not easy but we are doing all we can to ensure our mother is declared cancer free, there are however challenges involving services in most public facilities, at times they run out of crucial drugs and we are forced to purchase them at chemists at exorbitant prices,” she noted.

According to Kenya National Bureau of Statistics, the number of registered deaths stood at 200,205 in 2015 with cancer and heart diseases alone contributing 21,513 of the deaths representing 11 per cent of the registered deaths.

At the cancer centre, patients are scheduled for treatment on specific days. Chemotherapy is administered in spacious and well-ventilated rooms.

The long wait has caused untold suffering to many patients in dire need of immediate medical attention.

“Sickness cannot be postponed, informing a patient to wait till a favourable date so that they can be treated tends to demoralise them and that is why it is ideal for government to ensure all facilities are equipped with machines that can ease congestion,” said Kosgei.

She challenged the government to ensure the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) covers chronic ailments.

For John Letting, a resident of Kesses constituency, he had to sell land to cater for the treatment of his wife.

His wife was diagnosed with cervical cancer in 2015 and they flew to India for treatment.

“My wife Judy Mwende underwent chemotherapy sessions abroad where we stayed for 42 days last year and when we arrived, we began treatment in Eldoret, the challenge was lack of affordable drugs,” said Mr Letting.

He observed that there is need for more funding from the Government besides training more oncologists.

Mary Moiyo, a cancer patient in Eldoret, admitted that many patients undergoing chemotherapy were facing financial constraints.

The 59-year-old Moiyo was diagnosed with cancer this year and her family has had to raise funds to purchase of drugs.

“One is required to have close to Sh450,000 in the bank meant for therapy sessions along with three tablets at a cost of Sh17,000 each, the challenge is raising the amount,” she said.