NANDI COUNTY COMMEMORATES WORLD CANCER DAY
Nandi County joined the world to celebrate World Cancer Day at Sochoi Dispensary, Ol’Lessos Ward in Nandi Hills sub county with the theme “I am and I Will” aiming to reduce the global burden of cancer.
World Cancer Day is set aside to raise awareness of cancer and to encourage its prevention, detection, and treatment.
In her speech, the county executive member for health and Sanitation Ruth Koech said that as cancer affects everyone in different ways, everyone has the power to take various actions to reduce the impact that cancer has on individuals, families and communities.
The county executive committee member noted that the commonest cancers under review are; cancer of the breast, prostate cancer, cancer of gastrointestinal tract comprising of the esophagus, stomach, colon and rectum, cancer of the cervix, lymphomas and leukemia and cancer of the ovary. This emerging trend of cancer and non-communicable diseases poses a challenge to the government and her people due to the huge budgetary burden.
The CEC said that we can all take small steps to reduce the risk of developing cancer. Eating more fruits and vegetables, keeping active, watching alcohol intake, keeping a healthy weight and of course, quitting smoking, are all, cancer prevention in action.
“As a community we can educate people about the link between lifestyle behaviours and the cancer risk, dispel myths that lead to stigma and discrimination against people with cancer and encourage schools and work places to implement nutrition and physical activity policies that can help people to adopt healthy habits for life,” she added.
The campaign theme “I am and I Will” and highlights the fact that we can all play our part in reducing the burden of cancer. The day has a particular focus on prevention and survivorship.
The county government of Nandi has made cancer screening, diagnosis and care equally accessible for all no matter where you live, what income you earn, your ethnicity or gender.
To help Nandi residents access cancer diagnosis with ease the county government has installed a modern MRI machine, CT scan, X-ray and a modern immunology lab will be opened soon at the Kapsabet County Referral Hospital.
County Director for Medical Services Dr. David Bungei
Speaking at the occasion, the County Director for Medical Services Dr. David Bungei urged Nandi residents who have a risk factor to be tested regularly as early detection dramatically improves outcomes.
“On this day I ask you to take this opportunity to spread the word and raise the profile of cancer in people’s minds,” he said.
Mr. Birgen, a colon cancer survivor
Sammy Birgen, a colon cancer survivor urged residents to go for screening and those affected to speak out and be ambassadors. “Let’s speak about cancer in our language. We can help remove the fear and the stigma,” said Birgen.
Show your support by talking openly about cancer. Show your support by practicing a healthy lifestyle to reduce risks. Show your support by talking to others about cancer. We can all make a difference.
Also present was the Director Administration and Operations Dr. Philemon Bureti and Ol’Lessos Assistant County Commissioner.