Editorials

EDITORIAL: Treatment plan timely

cancer

Doctors prepare a patient for treatment at a cancer centre in Nairobi. PHOTO | FILE

Reports that Kenya is set to host eight chemotherapy centres in the country must have been well received by scores of families that have been struggling to tackle the expensive cancer treatment.

According to the Health ministry, the project seeks to have basic cancer treatment capability in all the 47 counties.

We, however, urge the government to go beyond mere pledges and ensure that the plan comes to fruition quickly.

The government had in 2015 pledged to set up similar facilities in Nairobi, Mombasa, Nyeri, Eldoret and Kisumu at a cost of Sh1 billion each

Cancer is currently the third top killer disease in the country after pneumonia and malaria. Last year, cancer claimed 16,953 lives, which was an increase of 1,191 compared to the 2016 figures.

Many families are unable to bear the high cost of treatment, which has seen some sell their property to raise funds for treatment locally and abroad.

We opine that setting up such centres locally should also be followed by cheaper cost of treatment to ensure that many are afforded an opportunity to have access to affordable and quality healthcare.