In Summary

• The program was officially launched at Mama Lucy Hospital.
• BD Africa leader Dr. Catherine Murithi says the aim is to ensure thousands in slum areas get medical attention and enough information about  cancer.

The National Cancer Institute-Kenya  has now team up with the Becton , Dickinson and Company to enhance cancer screening, treatment and awareness in low income areas.

Speaking in Mama Lucy Kibaki Hospital the BD Africa leader Dr. Catherine Murithi says the aim is to ensure thousands in slum areas get medical attention and enough information on cancer especially the cervical cancer which is prone in low income areas.

“Cervical cancer is curable and preventable, and can be eliminated within our lifetimes.Vaccination, regular screening, early diagnosis, and treatment could save thousands of women’s lives each year in Kenya. Cervical cancer symptoms develop slowly over time and often do not appear until the disease has reached an advanced state, which is why regular screening is so important—and so effective. BD welcomes this opportunity to partner with the Kenya Ministry of Health and County governments to help reduce rates of cervical cancer and advance the World Health Organization’s Global Strategy for Cervical Cancer Elimination.” Dr. Murithi said.

The program will be piloted in Nairobi County, with strong collaboration with the Nairobi County government, with a goal to expand throughout the country in the future. BD will support the initiative through:

• Cervical cancer awareness campaigns and health advocacy reaching local women where they ork and live.

• Training community health volunteers about HPV self-sampling and distributing self-collection kits to local health clinics;

• Installing at the National Reference Laboratory in Nairobi a high-volume automated molecular

diagnostic system that uses a unique test to individually identify high-risk HPV types;

• Establishing a Rapid Diagnostic Center at Mama Lucy Hospital in Nairobi; and

• Strengthening health care referral networks and linkage to care, as well as digital tracking of

samples and results reporting.

Reactions

”It is a good start and we are very happy with the initiative.The cervical cancer has a bigger prevalence in low income areas and therefore the program will help many who are suffering silently.” Agnes Umoja resident told Ghetto Radio News.

“Ni  poa huku mtaani  tumekuwa chini hakuna better health na  so far gava haijatufikia, sana sana kuhusu story za cancer.” Another resident added.