About 20,000 women in Migori County to get free cancer screening

About 20,000 women from Migori County are set to benefit free screening for cervical cancer.

From this number, 2000 to 4,0000 of them will then get treatment for pre-cancer lesion, before the number being cut down to 50, who will receive free treatment.

Partners including Nation Media Group (NMG), Swiftmed Solutions among others are sponsoring the ‘Step By Step Campaign’ that hopes to raise Sh50 million to be used to fund treatment of the beneficiaries.

On Tuesday, five men – Thomas Chacha, Peter Chacha, Philip Rogoro, Daniel Chogo and Daniel Nyamohanga began the 1,000 kilometre walk from Migori to Mombasa to rise the cash.

The team will pass through Narok, Nairobi and Taita Taveta Counties and are expected to be in Mombasa in the next 34 days.

“They will pass through 13 counties to raise awareness and money to assist our mothers, daughters and sisters who are suffering from cervical cancer,” said Dr Nelly Bosire, a director at Swiftmed Solutions.

Other sponsors include Smile Woman, a community based organisation, the Migori County government and Sarova Hotels.

SET UP MEDICAL CAMPS

“From August this year, we will set up medical camps at the Migori County Referral Hospital where the surgeries will take place,” said Dr Bosire.

Mr Thomas Chacha, one of the participants in the walk, said, “We are not walking for a show or for a medal but to tell Kenyans that the disease is preventable and curable if detected early.

“It is unfortunate that we are losing productive women daily due to late diagnosis.

Mrs Hellen Obado, the Migori governor’s wife, flagged off the walk outside the governor’s office.

She said the county government was committed to setting up screening centres in all the hospitals in the region.

She said this will help women to know their status in good time.

Mrs Obado thanked the partners for “showing utmost concern to the well-being of our mothers, sisters and daughters.”

CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

“This is a serious demonstration of corporate social responsibility that must be supported by all,” she noted.

Migori County Director of Health Joel Gondi said there are 209 hospitals but only 129 were offering screening services.

“We are going to roll out screening programmes in the remaining facilities soon to compliment the on-going efforts.

“With the support of the county government, we are also going to set up a cancer unit to serve the residents of Migori County who are still trooping to Kenyatta National Hospital for treatment,” said Dr Gondi.

Nominated MCA Charles Wambura moved the audience with his testimony of how he has been battling lung cancer and spending over Sh3 million on treatment.

“Please avoid cancer as early as you can. It is not a disease that you should live with because it is costly and painful,” he advised.

Those willing to support the ‘Step By Step Campaign’ may send their donations through M-Pesa pay bill number 572880, account name – Step by Step.