When cancer screening comes to the doorstep: Kisumu's new battle to prevent avoidable deaths

Kisumu has launched a mobile cancer screening clinic to bring early detection and prevention services closer to communities across the Lake Region.[Courtesy]

For many women living in villages across Kisumu and the wider Lake Region, cancer has often remained a silent threat- one discovered only when symptoms become severe, and treatment options become limited.

The distance to health facilities, the cost of travelling for medical services and fear surrounding cancer screening have continued to push many patients into late diagnosis, leaving families to bear the emotional and financial burden of a disease that health experts say can be prevented or successfully treated when detected early.

But a new initiative launched in Kisumu is seeking to change this reality by taking cancer prevention services closer to communities.

The Clinic on Wheels, a fully equipped mobile cancer screening truck, has been introduced as part of efforts to strengthen early detection, improve referrals and expand access to lifesaving cancer services across Kisumu County and the wider Lake Region.

Health officials say the initiative could significantly reduce cancer deaths, particularly cervical cancer, by ensuring more women access screening before the disease progresses.

The mobile clinic has been officially launched at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) through a partnership involving JOOTRH, the County Government of Kisumu, the Ministry of Health and the Africa Cancer Foundation (ACF).

Speaking during the launch, Kisumu County Executive Committee Member for Medical Services, Public Health and Sanitation, Dr Gregory Ganda, said early detection remains one of the most effective ways of reducing cancer deaths. He explained that screening even once in a woman's lifetime can significantly lower the risk of dying from cervical cancer.

"With HPV screening, there is a 48 per cent reduction. If you screen one woman for cervical cancer just once in her life, you reduce the chances of people dying by 30 per cent," said Dr Ganda.

He noted that Kisumu loses approximately 80 women every year from cervical cancer, based on national projections, but this number could be reduced through increased screening and treatment.

"If we screen women once only in their lifetime, we can reduce mortality by 30 per cent. That means we can save about 25 women. Through the work we have done in the last few years, we have reduced the number of women who would have died annually from 80 to around 60," he said.

Dr Ganda said the impact of saving lives goes beyond statistics because every woman saved represents a family protected from losing a mother, sister or relative.

"Twenty people will not lose their mother. Twenty people will not lose their sister. Twenty people will not lose their cousin. That number can become 40 if we complete this journey in the next two years," he said.

The county's ambition, he added, is to achieve the global 90-70-90 cervical cancer elimination targets within the next two years. The targets require 90 per cent of girls to be vaccinated against Human Papillomavirus (HPV), 70 per cent of women to be screened, and 90 per cent of women identified with cervical disease to receive appropriate treatment.

Kenya continues to experience a growing cancer burden, with health experts warning that late diagnosis remains one of the biggest challenges affecting survival rates.

According to available cancer data, Kenya records approximately 44,726 new cancer cases annually, with about 29,317 cancer-related deaths every year.

Cancer is currently the third leading cause of death in Kenya, after infectious diseases and cardiovascular conditions, and the second leading cause among non-communicable diseases. Women continue to carry a significant share of the burden, with breast and cervical cancers among the leading cancers affecting them.

Cervical cancer remains one of the most preventable cancers through HPV vaccination, regular screening and early treatment. However, thousands of women continue to be diagnosed at advanced stages due to limited access to screening services.

Dr Ganda said Kisumu County has made progress in cervical cancer prevention through increased HPV vaccination among girls aged between 10 and 14 years. In 2022, only 16 per cent of eligible girls had received HPV vaccination in the county.

However, through partnerships involving government and health stakeholders,  vaccination coverage has increased to 64 per cent, with more than 45,000 girls vaccinated over the last three years. Dr Ganda attributed the progress to collaboration between different actors in the health sector.

"There is a theory about partnerships. When you add one plus one and work alone, you get two. But when we hold our arms and decide to do this together, one plus one becomes three. That is how 16 per cent became 64 per cent," he said.

Besides vaccination, Kisumu has also increased cervical cancer screening efforts. The county screened approximately 40,000 women last year, achieving about 85 per cent of its annual target, according to health officials.

However, Dr Ganda acknowledged that major gaps remain, especially in ensuring patients identified with pre-cancerous conditions receive treatment.

He said about 60 per cent of women diagnosed with pre-cancerous cervical lesions fail to receive treatment, a challenge that threatens progress in reducing cervical cancer deaths.

"Screening is only the beginning. The women we identify must be linked to treatment. If someone has a pre-cancerous lesion and does not receive treatment, we have not completed the journey," he said.

Kisumu Governor Anyang Nyong'o said the launch of the Clinic on Wheels is part of efforts to move healthcare from a system where patients wait for services to one where services reach communities. He added that prevention remains the most effective approach in the fight against cancer, urging healthcare workers to intensify public education on healthy lifestyles, proper nutrition and early detection.

“For 15 years, we have been committed to cancer awareness and patient support because you cannot prevent what you do not know. Teaching people how to prevent cancer through diet and exercise is better than waiting until someone falls sick,” said Nyong’o.

He said the initiative seeks to bridge gaps caused by distance, cost and limited awareness by taking cancer prevention services directly to communities across Kisumu, Siaya and the wider Lake Region.

The governor urged residents to embrace the mobile screening services whenever the clinic reaches their communities, saying early detection remains a key weapon in reducing cancer deaths.

“I urge all of us to get screened and encourage our families, friends and neighbours to do the same because early detection remains our strongest weapon against cancer,” said Nyong’o.

Representing Principal Secretary for Medical Services Dr Ouma Oluga, Dr Joan Paula Bor, Acting Head of the National Cancer Control Programme, said bringing screening closer to communities is critical in addressing barriers that delay diagnosis.

"The launch here today is important because it is about bringing cancer services closer to the people who need them most," said Dr Bor. She praised the Africa Cancer Foundation for its 15 years of work in cancer awareness, prevention and early detection. Since its establishment in 2011, ACF has reached 30 out of Kenya's 47 counties and screened more than 36,000 people for breast, cervical and prostate cancers.

Mama Kisumu, Dorothy Nyong'o, who is also the Africa Cancer Foundation Managing Trustee, said the Clinic on Wheels represents the Foundation's commitment to ensuring no community is left behind in cancer prevention. She described the mobile clinic as the "last mile" in healthcare delivery because it brings services directly to people.

"We have been around since 2011, and we thank God that we have been able to visit 30 counties and screen more than 36,000 people. We could not have done this on our own. We have had loyal partners along the way," she said.

JOOTRH Chief Executive Officer Dr Clinton Okise said the cancer centre project is currently 80 per cent complete, with construction expected to be completed within the next two months. He added that the next phase will involve equipping the facility, with the hospital seeking approximately Sh1.8 billion to make the centre fully operational.

He explained that many patients referred outside Kisumu fail to complete treatment because of financial challenges, accommodation difficulties and lack of support systems.

"Some patients are referred to Nairobi or Eldoret, but because of their economic situation they cannot afford to go. Others ask where they will stay because they do not know anyone there. They return home and come back when the disease has advanced," he said.

Dr Okise added that the hospital is also in advanced discussions to acquire advanced cancer diagnostic equipment, including a PET-CT scanner and cyclotron, which will strengthen cancer diagnosis and treatment.