KENYA – The government of Kenya is set to host the first-ever National Cancer Summit 2023, scheduled for 2nd to 4th February 2023, culminating with the commemoration of world cancer day.
This is in recognition of the need for a more coordinated and multisectoral response to the growing cancer burden in Kenya.
Under the theme – uniting our voices and taking action – the summit is envisioned to bring together all stakeholders to discourse on identified areas of interest and to drive collective & impactful actions.
Speaking while she launched the Summit last year, Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Wafula said cancer remains a major public health concern in the country, being the third leading cause of death in Kenya.
The CS noted that the inaugural convention on cancer control will be held alongside the global commemoration of the World Cancer Day, that is held in February each year, thus enhancing our joint advocacy efforts towards improving cancer control.
She highlighted that the top five cancers are those of the breast, cervix, prostate, oesophageal and non – Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
She elaborated that the five cancers account for nearly half (48 per cent) of the cancer burden in the country regretting that nine women die every day due to cervical cancer, while nine in every 10 persons with oesophageal cancer will succumb to the disease.
She expressed that The National Cancer Summit 2023 will provide an appropriate platform for stakeholders from across all sectors to, among other discussions, deliberate on the recommendations arising from the Cancer Taskforce Report, review the progress made over the last 10 years in addressing the cancer burden, identify areas of learning from successful strategies and together, formulate solutions for collective action.
“I call upon our noble partners and well-wishers to join hands with us in making the summit a resounding success,” Wafula said.
“I particularly wish to recognize Roche East Africa and the City Cancer Challenge who have already committed to partner with us through sponsoring the execution of the summit and call upon other partners to come on board.”
The Inaugural National Cancer Summit 2023 Chairperson Dr. Githinji Gitahi highlighted that the National Cancer Institute (NCI) is working with the Ministry of Health to establish an advisory service for cancer patients so that when someone is diagnosed with cancer and does not know where to get help locally or abroad can be advised accordingly.
He urged cancer patients to attend the summit scheduled for 2nd-4th February2023 and be heard so as to help them get back to active economic and social participation.
The national assembly enacted the cancer prevention and control act (no. 15 of 2012) which established the National Cancer Institute of Kenya (NCI Kenya) as a state corporation.
The overall mandate of the NCI Kenya is to coordinate all activities, resources and information related to cancer prevention and control in Kenya.
As the country’s lead institution for cancer prevention and control, NCI Kenya advises the Cabinet Secretary for Health, on policy matters relating to the prevention, treatment and control of cancer.
This is through a systematic analysis of all cancer prevention and control activities undertaken by various stakeholders to determine the gaps and make recommendations on the investment priorities for the country.
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