By Ongaga Ongaga
More than half of women diagnosed with cervical cancer in Kenya die each year, largely because the disease is detected too late, new data shows.
According to a national survey, of the approximately 6,000 women screened annually for cervical cancer, about 3,500 do not survive beyond a year after diagnosis.
Public Health and Professional Standards Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni said the Government is deeply concerned by the statistics, noting that late detection remains the biggest challenge in the fight against the disease.
“The situation is made worse by the low screening uptake, with fewer than 50 per cent of women presenting themselves at health facilities for cervical cancer screening,” said PS Muthoni.
“This means many women are unknowingly walking around with a life-threatening disease.”
Health experts say cervical cancer symptoms often take long to manifest and can easily be mistaken for less serious conditions, leading many women to delay seeking medical attention.
PS Muthoni has urged women across the country to take advantage of Cervical Cancer Awareness Month to seek accurate information about the disease and undergo screening to establish their health status.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has set a global target to eliminate cervical cancer by 2030.
The strategy aims to ensure that 90 per cent of girls aged between 10 and 14 years are vaccinated against Human Papillomavirus (HPV), 70 per cent of women aged 25 to 49 are screened, and 90 per cent of those diagnosed receive appropriate treatment.
While Kenya is yet to meet these targets, PS Muthoni said the Ministry of Health is implementing a strategic plan over the next four years, running to 2030, to achieve the WHO’s 90–70–90 goals.
To accelerate progress, the national government is working closely with county governments and other stakeholders in the health sector to expand awareness and access to services.
Community Health Promoters (CHPs) have also been mobilised to encourage women at the grassroots level to go for screening.