Kenya battles rising cervical cancer cases as 9 women die daily
To tackle the crisis, the Ministry of Health has launched a nationwide vaccination campaign targeting 14-year-old schoolgirls.
Every day, nine women in Kenya lose their lives to cervical cancer, a silent killer that continues to tighten its grip on the country.
With over 3,000 deaths recorded annually and 5,226 new cases emerging each year, the disease is not just a health crisis but a growing national emergency.
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On a global scale, cervical cancer remains one of the deadliest diseases, accounting for approximately 10 million deaths annually.
These alarming figures have prompted Kenya's government and health stakeholders to ramp up efforts to curb the rising cases through screening, vaccination, and public awareness campaigns.
During a national event in Nyandarua County to mark World Cervical Cancer Awareness Month, government officials and health experts underscored the urgent need for early detection and preventive measures.
Push for early screening
Public Health Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni reiterated the government's commitment to improving screening services and expanding vaccination programmes, particularly for young girls.
"We must embrace screening as a critical measure in the fight against cervical cancer. Early detection saves lives," Muthoni stated.
To tackle the crisis, the Ministry of Health has launched a nationwide vaccination campaign targeting 14-year-old schoolgirls. The PS emphasised the importance of this effort.
"We are launching an aggressive vaccination programme to protect our young girls against cervical cancer," Muthoni said.
Regional Director at Thinkwell Anne Njoroge highlighted the importance of prevention, stressing that cervical cancer is treatable if caught early.
"With nine women dying every day, we must increase screening and vaccination efforts to address the rising numbers," she said.
Dr Joyce Nato, the head of Noncommunicable Conditions at WHO Kenya, pointed out that cervical cancer is one of the few types of cancer that can be eliminated.
Success stories
She cited success stories from European countries where screening and vaccination programmes have significantly reduced cases.
"This is the one type of cancer that can be eliminated. We have seen it happen in some European nations, and Kenya can achieve the same with a committed strategy," Nato explained.
Cancer survivors and advocates have also joined the fight, pushing for better healthcare support and urging the government to allocate more resources to cancer care.
Susan Macharia, a breast cancer survivor turned screening advocate, called for increased funding for the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) to ease the financial burden on cancer patients.
"The cost of cancer treatment is not just a burden on families but on the entire community. We need a well-structured social health insurance system to support those affected," she said.
Local leaders and community health promoters have been mobilised to encourage women — especially those in rural areas—to take advantage of free screening services now available in government facilities.
County officials urged residents to enrol in the Social Health Insurance program to ensure access to affordable cancer treatments.
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