Cancer now Kenya’s second deadliest Disease. Every year, thousands of Kenyan families are left devastated by the harsh toll of cancer both emotionally and financially. The illness doesn’t just steal lives; it drains pockets, making treatment an unaffordable dream for many.
According to the National Cancer Institute of Kenya, more than 45,000 people are diagnosed with cancer annually, and close to 24,000 lose their battle to the disease, highlighting its growing grip on the country’s health system.
At a media briefing ahead of the Second National Cancer Summit in Nairobi, Dr. Timothy Olweny, Chair of the National Cancer Institute Board of Trustees, raised alarm over the rising cancer burden in Kenya.
Cancer now ranks among Kenya’s top two deadliest diseases, claiming at least 75 lives daily.
At a media briefing ahead of the Second National Cancer Summit in Nairobi, Dr. Timothy Olweny, Chair of the National Cancer Institute Board, raised alarm over the rising cancer burden. He blamed the crisis on limited government funding and the high cost of treatment.
“There’s a clear link between poverty and illness,” he said. “Poverty fuels cancer, and cancer deepens poverty.”
Meanwhile, the institute’s CEO, Dr. Elias Melly, called for an immediate ban on cancer-causing chemicals used in agriculture. He urged the Ministry of Agriculture to act fast, noting that chemical exposure remains a major trigger of cancer in many communities.
Currently, the National Cancer Institute operates with only 30 staff, despite needing at least 300. Stakeholders pushed for more funding and urged reforms to the Social Health Authority (SHA) to help patients access affordable treatment.
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