KENYA – State corporation Kenya Medical and Training College (KMTC) has received ultramodern equipment for cervical cancer diagnosis and treatment in an effort to address the rising disease burden in Kenya.
Established through an Act of Parliament under the Ministry of Health, KMTC is mandated with the role of training various disciplines in the health sector to serve the Kenyan interests, East Africa and beyond as well as support young professionals to get healthcare related opportunities globally.
The Kenya Medical and Training College has acquired medical devices from the Ministry of Health in partnership with John Hopkins Program for International Education in Gynecology and Obstetrics (jhpiego) to build workforce capacity for the surgical management of cervical cancer.
The State-owned medical corporation received 3 Cryotherapy and 10 Thermoablation devices for cancer treatment to enable students to gain technical skills on how to treat cervical lesions as well as strengthen their capabilities in line with the Universal Health Coverage agenda.
The medical devices for cancer management will further help to address the lack of training and skills for cancer among primary healthcare workers which is a major setback in cervical and breast cancer control in the country.
KMTC will use the modern machines for on-site training to enhance trainees’ skills in treating precancerous cervical lesions by destroying abnormal cells that could develop into cancer. Cryotherapy machines uses extreme cold to freeze lesions while Thermoablation devices uses extreme heat.
In addition, the use of the advanced machines will be incorporated in KMTC’s curriculum and the devices will be available in the training laboratories at the campus which is a significant boost to Kenya’s war against cervical cancer.
The John Hopkins Program will also offer support to KMTC to teach students how to identify the abnormal cells in the cervix through a technique called Visual Inspection with Acetic Acid which involves applying dilute acetic acid solution to the cervix. Lesions turn a white color and the clinician can offer cryotherapy.
Moreover, the Kenya Medical Training College releases the largest number of health workers graduates each year and their training is part of the long-term strategy to ensure continuity and sustainability of the government’s efforts against cancer
The Kenyan national government has also rolled out cancer screening and treatments in level 1, 2 and 3 hospitals in collaboration with the county governments as part of the World Health Organization call to eliminate cervical cancer.
The government is advocating for the administering of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine through the National Vaccine and Immunization programme to protect women from cervical cancer since the sexually transmitted Human Papillomavirus causes a majority of cervical cancers.
In addition, Kenya is working towards vaccinating 90 per cent of girls between 10 and 14 years against the cancer-causing HPV by administering two doses six months apart, screening 70 per cent of all eligible women and 90 per cent of those found to have cervical cancer treated by 2030.
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