NAIROBI, July 7 (Xinhua) -- Kenya's ministry of health in conjunction with multilateral partners and industry on Friday launched a five year national cancer control strategy that seeks to rejuvenate the war against a disease that claims 27,000 lives in the country annually.
Cabinet Secretary for Health, Dr Cleopa Mailu said the comprehensive strategy focuses on targeted investments in diagnostics, public awareness, research and palliative care to reduce the burden of cancer in Kenya.
"The 2017-2022 national cancer strategy aims to inject vitality in public education, early screening and comprehensive care for patients to avert deaths," Mailu said in a speech read on his behalf by the Director of Medical Services, Dr Jackson Kioko.
The East African nation has in the recent past grappled with a spike in cancer cases linked to rapid urbanization, sedentary lifestyles, pollution and physical inactivity among the population.
Mailu said the new cancer strategy whose five strategic pillars focus on early detection, surveillance, palliative care, increased financing and research will hasten attainment of an ambitious goal to eliminate the disease.
"We are taking a radical approach to reduce cancer mortalities in the country and will harness the power of partnerships to finance implementation of the new cancer control strategy," said Mailu.
He added that Kenya has domesticated a global strategy on prevention of non-communicable diseases that include cancers that are currently straining the healthcare infrastructure in the country.
Cancer is the third leading cause of deaths in Kenya after infectious and cardiovascular diseases.
Statistics from the ministry of health indicates that Kenya records over 40,000 cancer cases annually and the number could rise against a backdrop of lifestyle changes, environmental pollution and low awareness levels in the general public.
The Head, Department of Non-Communicable Diseases in the Ministry of Health, Dr Joseph Kibachio said that Kenya aims to set precedence in cancer prevention and care through investments in diagnostic equipment, advanced treatment, research and public education.
