Renowned and Celebrated Cancer expert Catherine Nyongesa has weighed in and clarified on why there are many Cancer cases in Nairobi.
Speaking to the press today, Nyongesa, who also doubles as the Texas Cancer Centre founder said that higher utilisation of cancer screening services may explain the increased number of confirmed cancer cases in the city
” Higher utilization of cancer screening services likely contribute to higher rates of cancer cases observed in Nairobi,” she said.
She also said that unlike in Rural areas City residents easily access various screening facilities.
“Studies have found that rural residents have lower rates of cancer screening. Also people needs to understand that alot of cancer treatment centres are located in Nairobi,”. She said.
She adviced on the importance early screening saying that it is the only way of saving life.
Last year Nyongesa adviced President William Ruto’s government to invest more in all activities that will reduce cancer related cases in the country .
Nyongesa had also urged players to close the gap between diagnosis and treatment.
“The world has greatly advanced in cancer prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. But many are denied basic care and that equity gap costs lives,” Dr. Nyongesa said. Nyongesa noted that education, geographical location, and discrimination either by ethnicity, race, gender, age, disability are among the leading causes of the widening gap of access to care.
