Six centres get sh4.9M equipment for cancer screening

Six public hospitals in Nairobi's Eastlands have received cancer screening machines, in a move aimed at stepping up fight against cervical cancer

The equipment worth Sh4.9 million was donated by SOS Children’s Villages Kenya.

The organisation mainly targeted level two (dispensaries and clinics) and level three (health centres, maternity homes and sub district hospitals) facilities in three constituencies.

In Embakasi West constituency; Kayole One, Kayole Two and Umoja health centres benefited. Kayole Soweto and Mukuru Health Centre in Embakasi East and Jericho Health Centre in Makadara also benefited.

Locals will now now get free cervical cancer screening, treatment and advocacy in these facilities. Various strains of the human papillomavirus (HPV), a sexually transmitted infection, play a role in causing most cervical cancers.

Equipment donated include Cryogams, examination lights, speculums, sanitary pads, lab courts, bedsheets, examination couch, timers among other.

Cryotherapy destroys precancerous cells. These are cells that aren’t normal, but haven’t become cancerous yet.

Doctors can also use it to treat certain kinds of cancer, including prostate, liver, and bones.

SOS Children’s Villages Kenya National Director Walter Odhiambo said according to Demographic Survey 2014, Kenya loses approximately eight mothers every day to cervical cancer.

“That means their children will be left vulnerable to parental care, the cancer burden is huge in this country, so if we have one that is preventable why not help?” asked Mr Odhiambo.

Nairobi County Head Partnership Coordinator in the health department, Gregory Miyanga said it was important to note that women who are HIV positive stand a higher risk of contracting cervical cancer as they are four to five times more likely to experience persistent HPV infection and subsequently cervical cancer.

“Our people have perished due lack of knowledge,” he said.