Gertrude’s Children’s Hospital has called for more collaborative action to combat the rising cases of childhood cancer. The sentiments were addressed during its third annual family cancer walk, which is part of the Kenya Childhood Cancer Program.
In Kenya, it is estimated that there are 3,200 new cancer cases in children every year. Sadly, the number could be much higher because of under-diagnosis and under-reporting.
This year’s walk attracted major sponsors including Zamara, who was the title sponsor for the second year running. Over 2,000 participants from families, corporate entities, and government agencies also took part in the walk.
Launched in 2019, the Kenya Childhood Cancer Program supports cancer diagnosis and treatment in children, as well as the training and upskilling of healthcare workers. The program has trained over 200 healthcare workers across the country, providing them with the skills and knowledge they need to identify cancer symptoms in children and provide lifesaving treatment.
Speaking during the cancer walk, Gertrude’s Chldren’s Hospital CEO Dr. Robert Nyarango, called for urgent investment in childhood cancer diagnosis and treatment. He emphasized on the importance of a multi-stakeholder approach to combating the disease adding, “The fact that so many cases go without diagnosis and so many children die without accessing treatment should drive all of us to participate in initiatives that help mount a strong defence against cancer in children.”
On his part, Dr. Thomas Ngwiri, Head of Clinical Services at Gertrude’s Children’s Hospital, thanked participants and sponsors noting, “Each year, thousands of children suffer and die from cancer due to a lack of access to diagnosis and treatment. In addition to raising funds that will go a long way toward assisting some of the most vulnerable children, the participants were able to spend the day bonding and engaging in activities with their families.”
Participants at the walk were given the option of running a 13 kilometre circuit along the Southern Bypass or a shorter 5 kilometer trail. Gertrude’s Hospital first held the cancer walk in 2019 and took a two-year break at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic to resume in 2023.