Do more to ease breast cancer burden in Kenya

October has been designated the Breast Cancer Awareness Month after the devastating effects of the disease over the last few decades. In Kenya, the cancer burden has been felt by numerous families after their kin have been diagnosed with the disease.

Many have had to sell off family property to settle exorbitant medical bills and pay for costly chemotherapy and other treatments. And even where patients have medical insurance, the treatment costs are too high to be sustained and effective.

This year’s theme: “No one should face breast cancer alone” emphasizes the need for society, the government, the private sector and non-governmental organisations to collaborate in the fight against the disease.

The WHO theme urges humanity to work together, reach out and help those suffering from breast cancer. Once shared, the financial, physical and social burden wrought by the disease will hugely help patients and their families.

In Kenya, the Ministry of Health and several private sector players have established cancer care centres where patients can get therapy and treatments at subsidised costs. However, such centres seem to lack qualified oncologists and medication.

Indeed, many cancer patients have been forced to travel abroad, especially to India to seek treatment and care. This is, however, a costly affair for many Kenyan families reeling under tough economic realities.

Late diagnosis of breast cancer is another challenge, that the authorities must tackle urgently. Regular screening and hospital visits should be encouraged to catch the disease early. Medics have proven that early diagnosis increases the chances of healing among patients. However, patients who present the disease in late stages have little chance of survival. This calls for regular campaigns against the disease across the country. And the drive should not be confined to urban areas only, since breast cancer cases have also been detected in the furthest and most remote areas.

Health CS Deborah Barasa has acknowledged the need to spread awareness to rural areas even as ongoing health insurance reforms continue. For instance, the ongoing migration from the defunct National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) to the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) has seen many cancer patients missing treatment.

The ministry must work round the clock to ensure all breast cancer patients under the public health insurance scheme are treated on time. They should not be left to their own devices during the transition period.

Finally, the government must set aside enough funds to handle breast cancer cases and other type of cancers. This should include preventive measures and promotion of healthy lifestyles. It should also purchase modern equipment for all major health facilities to handle cancer cases.