Uasin Gishu Launches Lifesaving Lung Cancer Care Toolkit
“We must take cancer awareness to villages. Early detection and referral can save lives,” David Musyoki, KEHPCA Executive Director
Lawrence Atundo, Program Manager at AMPATH (left), and David Musyoki, Executive Director of KEHPCA, addressing the media during the launch of the Lung Cancer Care Toolkit for Uasin Gishu County
Uasin Gishu County, in partnership with the Kenya Hospices and Palliative Care Association (KEHPCA), launched a lung cancer care toolkit. This toolkit will help patients, caregivers, and healthcare workers understand and manage the disease better.
The event also marked the end of the Lung Cancer Care Phase 2 project. The project started in 2022 and aimed to raise awareness, train healthcare workers, and support caregivers.
Early Detection Saves Lives
Speaking at the event, Dr. Evans Kiprotich, the County Director of Health Services, emphasized early detection.
“Lung cancer symptoms look like tuberculosis. This toolkit will help doctors and nurses identify the disease early,” he said.
To improve diagnosis, the county installed a Gene Expert machine at Turbo Sub-County Hospital. This machine helps distinguish between TB and lung cancer, reducing misdiagnosis.
Prevention and Awareness Are Key
Dr. Kiprotich stressed that prevention can reduce cancer cases.
“By lowering exposure to risk factors and changing lifestyles, we can cut lung cancer cases in our communities,” he said.
David Musyoki, KEHPCA Executive Director, called for more community awareness. He noted that indoor pollution from cooking fuels contributes to lung cancer.
“We must take cancer awareness to villages. Early detection and referral can save lives,” Musyoki said.
Challenges in Lung Cancer Diagnosis
According to Dr. Lawrence Atundo Murunga from Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH), lung cancer is difficult to diagnose.
“Low-level health facilities cannot diagnose lung cancer. It requires expensive procedures and specialists,” he explained.
Currently, Western Kenya has only two intervention radiologists. This shortage delays diagnosis and treatment.
High Cost of Treatment Burdens Families
Lung cancer treatment is costly, forcing many families into financial struggles.
Gideon Ayodo, NCDA-Kenya Programme Officer, urged the government to include cancer treatment in health insurance.
“Cancer treatment is expensive. Patients need financial support to manage the disease,” he said.
Lung Cancer: Deadly but Underreported
Lung cancer is not the most common cancer in Kenya, but it is one of the deadliest.
- It ranks 11th in Kenya but has a 92% fatality rate.
- In one year, MTRH diagnosed 154 lung cancer patients. Sadly, 28 of them died.
- Globally, lung cancer caused 1.8 million deaths in 2022.
Misdiagnosis as TB or other lung diseases may hide the true number of cases in Kenya.
The Future of Lung Cancer Care
The toolkit launch is a big step forward in lung cancer management. It will help doctors, caregivers, and patients navigate the disease.
Uasin Gishu County remains committed to cancer awareness, early detection, and patient support.
This collaboration between Uasin Gishu County and KEHPCA aims to ensure no lung cancer patient is left behind.
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