CANCER PATIENTS RECEIVE FOOD DONATION FROM COUNTY FIRST LADY

Kakamega County First Lady H.E Priscillah Oparanya Thursday morning donated assorted food stuff to hundreds of cancer warriors at the County General & Referral Hospital an event that coincided with the Kakamega Cancer Center Day Care Celebration Day.

Speaking during the event, Mama Priscillah thanked Roche Foundation for the sponsorship which saw 135 cancer patients receive maize and wheat flour, rice, soap, cooking oil and sugar among others. She said she will approach the foundation to introduce some of its programmes at the Kakamega Cancer Centre with the aim of reducing treatment costs and access to drugs by cancer patients.

“Through their (Roche’s) support, we have been able to touch lives of the needy in our society. We should fight the stigma that is associated with cancer by being close to these patients,” she noted.

Roche Foundation is a private entity that has scaled up treatment and care for cancer patients through a private-public partnership. Cancer is so far the third highest cause of morbidity in Kenya.

Mama Priscillah also appreciated Doctors and Oncologists at the Cancer centre for providing quality medical care to the patients. The facility attends to over 30 patients in a day.

Mama County lauded the Kakamega County Government for establishing the centre saying it has reduced the distance covered by the patients to seek for treatment. The facility which was commisioned in 2018 serves patients from as far as Bungoma, Busia, Nyanza and parts of Rift Valley regions.

“It is also essential for you to register for NHIF cover to subsidize the high cost of cancer treatment,” she advised.

Medical Superitentent Dr. Victor Zimbulu said the facility has acquired and installed a Histology machine that will enhance services at the facility for both the patients and the medical staff.

Dr. Joseph Sumba, the Oncology In-Charge, on his part said the cancer centre has 746 active patients and thanked the First Lady for her efforts that have scaled up services at the centre.

Madam Eunice Mulekhane, on behalf of cancer survivors in the county, urged the patients to encourage each other and announced that they have launched the Kakamega Cancer Support Group that will teach patients how to start up income generating activities to cushion them against the high cost of treatment.