Bungoma First Lady Urges Residents To Go For Cancer Screening And Testing

Bungoma residents have been called upon to go for Cancer screening and testing to eradicate the killer disease in its early stages.

Speaking at Webuye County Hospital on Saturday during the commemoration of World’s Cervical Cancer awareness month, the first lady Margaret Makelo Lusaka said that it was sad that many residents were suffering from the disease but they remain unmware.

Bungoma County has been ranked First in Cervical Cancer Screening in the Lake Region Economic Bloc.

According to global statistics, Kenya has one of the highest rates globally, with 40.1 percent new cases of cervical cancer diagnosed per 100,000 women annually.

“When diagnosed, cervical cancer is one of the most successfully treatable forms of cancer, as long as it is detected early and managed effectively,” she said.

The first lady added, “Cervical cancer diagnosed in late stages can also be controlled with appropriate treatment and palliative care,”.

She affirmed that through recognizing a comprehensive approach to preventing, screening and treatment, cervical cancer can be eliminated as a public health problem within a generation.

The First Lady is spearheading this campaign and was joined by Five First Spouses of the Bloc, State and non-state actors working to see the elimination of cervical cancer in the Lake Region Economic Bloc and beyond.

She lauded Bungoma women for embracing the awareness and screening that has seen the County ranked first in the Bloc in attainment of screening and treatment.

She acknowledge the need to fight against cervical cancer as ongoing interventions for women rights as the unnecessary suffering caused by this preventable disease reflects one of the injustices that affect women’s health in Bungoma and beyond.

She emphasized the importance of collective efforts in undertaking the interventions as it goes along way as we  strive to make history in ensuring a cervical cancer free  future in Kenya.

Deputy Governor Janepher Mbatiany lauded the initiative by the LREB governor’s spouses promising them of the county government support towards achieving cancer free Bungoma.

She further pleaded with the residents to make frequent visits to the medical facilities for check ups and screening.

“I am calling upon all residents to go for regular medical check up, they might be infected and it will be easier to start medication early rather than waiting when Cancer is at stage four which will be very hard to control,” she said.

Bungoma County Government in collaboration with, Africa Cancer Foundation, Matibabu Foundation and partnering with the Lake Region Economic Bloc (LREB) are spearheading Cervical Cancer awareness Campaign.

The Cervical Cancer campaign in the LREB region was launched on 17 November, 2021, in line with the World Health Organisation’s call to eliminate cervical cancer.

Global and Kenya National Cervical Cancer Awareness is marked in January.  According to the World Health Organisation, it is a perfect opportunity for partners in the continent to raise awareness about cervical cancer and HPV vaccination.

This year 2023,  the focus is on the elimination of cervical cancer as the theme for Cervical Cancer Awareness Month.

This year it comes at a time when the world continues to live through the COVID-19 pandemic, where substantial disruptions to essential health services persist.

“So during this month and beyond, let us work together to build healthier communities by improving access to effective primary (HPV vaccination) and secondary prevention (screening for and treating precancerous lesions) to eliminate cervical cancer,” she said.

Bungoma is the fourth county to issue the scrubs to healthcare workers after Siaya, Kisumu and Migori who received them in December 2022 and January 2023.

Mama County saw the distribution of  2,000 medical scrubs to healthcare workers.

Webuye County Hospital also offers Cancer vaccination, diagnosis and treatment.

Also present were the County health and Sanitation CEC Dr Andrew Wamalwa, director medical services Dr.Caleb Wata, Webuye County Hospital medical supirentendent Dr. Simon Kisaka, the County Health Management Team member Millicent Kiplai among others.

First ladies  Magret Makelo-Bungoma, Janet Barasa (Kakamega)Betty Mutai (Kericho),  Emily Nyaribo (Nyamira), H Agnes Ochilo (Migori)  when they  commemorated the World Cervical Cancer day for the Lake Region Economic Block, at Webuye County hospital