Cases of cancer among children alarm medic

As cases of children fighting cancer each year continue to increase at a time when many of them are unable to access diagnosis and ultimate treatment, stakeholders have been urged to accelerate awareness to help lower cases of preventable cancer deaths in children.

Dr Robert Nyarango, the CEO of Gertrude’s Children’s Hospital emphasised that time had come for Kenyans to join hands in combating the crisis.

“Thousands of children are fighting cancer each year, yet many of them are unable to access diagnosis and therefore are not treated. In 2023, our Cancer Program helped more than 40 children access treatment at no cost to their families. With the help of participants this year, we aim to raise more funds to expand the programme and reach over 1,000 children suffering from treatable cancers across the country,” said Nyarango. 

Leading cause

World Health Organisation (WHO) says cancer is a leading cause of death among children and adolescents globally.

The health organisation estimates that children in low and middle-income countries such as Kenya only have a survival chance of 30 per cent, a stark contrast to the 80 per cent recovery rate in higher-income countries.

In Kenya, it is estimated that childhood cancer incidence is approximately 3,000 new cases each year, according to figures from the Global Cancer Observatory (GLOBOCAN).

The estimates are, however, thought to be significantly lower than actual figures due to a lack of awareness that leads to fewer confirmed diagnoses and reporting.

It is the alarming situation that has seen Gertrude’s Children’s Hospital launch its third edition of its Annual Cancer Walk event which raises funds for expanding the early diagnosis and treatment of cancer in children.

The walk is part of Kenya’s paediatric cancer Programme, whose goal is to reduce paediatric cancer mortality.

Scheduled to be held on March 17, 2024, the walk will begin at Uhuru Gardens in Lang’ata and will provide two options, a 13-kilometre-long circuit for adults and teenagers and a shorter 5-kilometre path for smaller children.

Quality treatment

Dr Thomas Ngwiri, Gertrude’s Children’s Hospital Head of Clinical Services, noted that in addition to funding treatment, the cancer program also trains healthcare workers to identify symptoms and provide quality treatment as part of the multi-stakeholder approach to reducing cancer-related deaths among children.

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.