Public Health Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni has urged Kenyans to get the HPV vaccination to avoid cervical cancer, as the country deals with 42,000 instances of cancer each year.

Speaking at a screening exercise at Raimu Primary School in Kirinyaga County on Sunday, the PS stated that the country registers 27, 000 cancer deaths each year, highlighting the need for increased preventative efforts.

Muthoni stated that the ministry has adopted a worldwide policy of 70:90:70, in which 70% of girls aged 9 to 14 years are vaccinated, 90% of women are checked for early cancer diagnosis, and 70% of diagnosed cases are treated.

The PS urged Kenyans aged 40 and under to assume the responsibility of getting checked for cancer, claiming that this is the most productive age.

Muthoni also advocated for the new social health insurance, claiming that it will give a remedy for the majority of ailments.

In Eldoret County, the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) observed World Cancer Day, with medical professionals identifying late detection as a key setback in the fight against cancer.

Dr. Jessy Obakah, the director of oncology at MTRH, highlighted prostate cancer, cervical cancer, and breast cancer as the most common, encouraging Kenyans to get frequent screenings.

At the same time, cancer survivors led by Mercy Osoro urged the government to increase the role of the cancer survivors program in the social health insurance fund to aid them.

“There are some side effects that one lives with, we plead with government have a package to support survivors in the post-treatment phase,” Osoro said.