Prevention Remains the Cornerstone in Cancer Fight, Says Health CEC Lagat as Uasin Gishu–Östergötland Partnership Deepens
Medical Services Director Dr. Evans Kiprotich noted that the county is implementing strategies to bring health services closer to the people.
The Uasin Gishu-Östergötland collaboration under the International Centre for Local Democracy aims to enhance equitable and community-centered cancer care. Photo/courtesy.
By Ruth Sang
Uasin Gishu County Executive Committee Member for Health Services, Joseph Lagat, reiterated that the most powerful tool in combating cancer is prevention and early detection, not mere treatment. His remarks came during a high-level Steering Group Meeting with delegates from region Östergötland, Sweden, under the ongoing Equity in Cancer Care Project.
Lagat added that Uasin Gishu County was doing well in incorporating cancer screening and early detection into the regular community health service packages. He said the county government was striving to enhance outreach programs and mobile medical camps to make services in cancer prevention more accessible at the grassroots level.
“Prevention will sort out the cancers,” Lagat said, elaborating that awareness and screening services at the local community level hold the key to stemming the growing toll of the disease. “We are building strong structures to ensure prevention becomes a reality, and our community health promoters have been indispensable in educating residents right at the grassroots.”
Andreas Westoo led the delegation, flanked by Kirsten Sjoberg, Opposition Representative, and Peter Berrgen, Head of Project, who applauded the county’s proactive approach to health. They remarked on the integration of prevention into health care and encouraged continued emphasis on HPV vaccination, especially among young girls, as a strategy in combating cervical cancer.
Uasin Gishu County Assembly Majority Leader, Hon. Julius Sang, hailed the increasingly thriving partnership between Uasin Gishu and Östergötland, stating that it would play a critical role in strengthening cancer prevention and management in the county. “We must act with urgency,” he said. “Too many families have lost loved ones to cancers that could have been prevented or treated early.”
Medical Services Director Dr. Evans Kiprotich noted that the county is implementing strategies to bring health services closer to the people. He said though screening facilities are increasing, factors such as cultural stigma, myths, and lack of awareness hinder early detection and treatment.
The delegation toured several county health facilities during the visit, including the Uasin Gishu County Hospital Oncology Clinic, Cancer Screening Unit, Lung/TB Clinic, and Mama Rachel Ruto Maternity Hospital.
The Uasin Gishu-Östergötland collaboration under the International Centre for Local Democracy aims to enhance equitable and community-centered cancer care. By strengthening the preventive health system and sensitizing the public, it aspires to build a healthier and more cancer-conscious population in a world where no one is left behind in accessing quality healthcare.
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