A VISIT TO ELDORET HOSPICE.

For over nine years of my stay in eldoret i have always had plans to visit Eldoret hospice to offer my support and empathy to the cancer survivors.Yesterday i took a walk to the facility which is approximately 5 minutes away from eldoret town.My encounter was a pleasent one,the reception right from security at the gate,health proffesionals and the  administration  was awesome.I was welcomed by the facility administrator Mrs Alice Terer,i had an opportunity to explain the purpose of my visit and she was not only encouraging on my dream to establish a CBO focusing on non communicable diseases,cancer included but also supportive.She later took me round the facility and i was able to meet the health proffesionals,Mr Boen,Miss Grace and Sarah the nursing officer in charge just to mention but a few.The facility offers outpatient services for cancer survivors and extended services right at their homes,through and intergrated approach by a multi disciplinary health team.The facility also has monthly family days for the survivors courtesy of sponsers,in the real sense of the word.Anyone can do something about it and you dont have to be wealthy to give,all you need is to be rich in the heart and donate whatever you can.God always bless those who give.I later left the facility at 2 pm,the administrator invited me for the family day which was going down today.The event was as colourful as it came and did not dissapoint either,i arrived just in time and after the guests had been ushered in and served the event began shortly after 3 pm.There was official opening of the peads unit,complete with attractive paintings and playing toys,it is worth mentioning that the art works was done by a volunteer.There was music and sky rocking entertainment,speeches and recognition of sponsers of the day.Just before then i had an opportunity to interact with the survivors,coincidently the first two i meet are from the south rift,an elderly man and a three year old child with neuroblastoma,cancer that develops from immature nerve cells found in several areas of the body.,That serves to confirm my fears that the cases of cancer have been constantly on rise in greater south rift and something ought to be done sooner rather than later as stipulated by the kenyan strategic framework on non communicable diseases.As you read this article,i urge you to take a step and touch someones life affected by terminal ilness in every little way you can,if you are in Eldoret make a date with the hospice.You will come out with a heart full of  Gods grace,be blessed.

PUTTING CANCER TO PERSPECTIVE.

The other day i was reading an article about celebrity women offering support to fellow women who are either suffering from cancer or had survived the same.What captured my attention was the damming fact that across the globe it is anticipated that 1 out of 8 women are likely to be diagnosed with cancer ,will know of someone suffering from it or will participate in taking care of a victim.Probably because of breast and cervical cancers.However,i was not suprised either.Cancer is one of the leading non communicable diseases that experts have predicted will wrec havoc to human generation by 2030 if appropriate measures are not put in place. The others are hypertension and diabetes.Looking back at home,the minisrty of health through its strategic framework for prevention and control of non communicable diseases 2015-2020 leaves alot to be desired.
The ministry highlighted 10 key aims within the strategy, but for purposes of today i will only focus on two of them,1 and 10.The first being establishishing mechanisms to raise priority accorded to NCDs at national and county levels to intergrate their prevention and control across all government seectors and the other being promotion and strengthening of advocacy,communication and social mobilization for NCDs control and prevention.The government has made strides in the recent past but it will be a lie to create an imagination that situation has improved with respect to agony cancer patients undergo.Recently we were treated to a spectacle by the kenyan doctors reffering their clients to foreign countries for kickbacks ,simply because the cost of diagnosis and treatment in kenya is expensive to say but the least.If the diagnosis and treatment was readily avaliable there would be no need for refferal in the first place,and the common mwanchi cannot afford it unless through a fund raiser.The wealthy and the rich political class are not bothered since they can manage it anyway,the government both national and county needs to work together and provide a solution together as opposed to the political sideshows witnesed in the recent past.Secondly the level of awareness and advocacy is still low,given the fact that most cancers can be managed at early stages if detecttion is timely.Currently 80% of cancer cases are diagnosed at advanced stages.Primary prevention,early detection,diagnosis & treatment , pain relief and palliative care,cancer surveillance,monitoring and evaluation should be accorded priority.Most importantly modification of risk factors is critical,this cuts across for all NCDs,in Kenya the risk factors includes the following:genetic predisposition,enviromental carcinogens,behavioral risk factors and infections.we have a collective responsibility to demand qualityand affordable healthcare from the government of the day in adressing low awareness levels ,early diagnosis and treatment as well as strengthening the refferal system.Have a blessed week.

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