Mombasa: West Pokot County on Tuesday joined the global community in commemorating World Cancer Day, with county health officials emphasizing the need for stronger partnerships, early detection, and people-centered approaches to mitigate the growing cancer burden.
According to Kenya News Agency, the day featured a solidarity march through Makutano town, uniting healthcare practitioners, development partners, and key stakeholders in a bid to raise awareness and demonstrate a collective commitment to combating cancer. The County Executive Committee (CEC) Member for Health, Claire Parklea, highlighted that the annual commemoration, observed worldwide on February 4, aims to raise awareness, enhance education, promote early detection, and inspire action against cancer. This year’s theme, ‘United by Unique,’ emphasizes the necessity for a collective response to the personal journey of cancer.
Parklea noted that cancer remains a leading cause of death both globally and within Kenya. According to the GLOBOCAN report, Kenya sees over 47,000 new cancer cases annually, with more than 32,000 resulting in fatalities. These statistics reflect significant human suffering, affecting nearly every Kenyan family either directly or indirectly.
The CEC highlighted the hidden cancer burden in counties like West Pokot, where many cases go undiagnosed and families experience devastating losses due to limited access to screening and specialized services. In response, the County Department of Health, along with development partners, conducted cancer prevention and screening activities at Kapenguria County Referral Hospital from January 31 to February 4, 2026, as part of the World Cancer Day lead-up.
Residents had access to cervical cancer screening for eligible women, prostate cancer screening for at-risk men, breast cancer screenings, clinical breast examinations, and HPV vaccinations for girls to prevent future cervical cancer. The CEC stressed the importance of early detection and prevention in reducing cancer-related illnesses and deaths, noting that timely diagnosis not only saves lives but also reduces treatment costs and enhances quality of life.
The West Pokot County Government was commended for prioritizing cancer prevention and control under its Universal Health Coverage agenda, with praise extended to the County Health Management Team for its leadership and coordination. Appreciation was also expressed to development partners, civil society organizations, faith-based institutions, and healthcare workers for their roles in resource mobilization, community outreach, and service delivery.
As the county marked World Cancer Day, residents were encouraged to adopt healthy lifestyles, pursue timely screenings and vaccinations, support early diagnosis and treatment, and work towards reducing cancer stigma. ‘Cancer is preventable, cancer is treatable, and cancer can be defeated-if we act together,’ Parklea urged, calling for unity in building a healthier, cancer-aware West Pokot County.
Chrisantus Wekesa, an official from the National Cancer Institute of Kenya (NCI-K), expressed concerns over cancer prevention and management in West Pokot County. He noted that last year the county lagged in the fight against the disease. Following an assessment visit, the institution identified major gaps, leading to plans for strengthening cancer control initiatives in the county.
Wekesa highlighted that many Kenyans are diagnosed with cancer at late stages, making it a leading cause of death. He emphasized that cancer is often treatable and sometimes curable if detected early. ‘Early diagnosis allows patients to access treatment in time. The challenge is that many seek medical attention when cancer has already advanced,’ Wekesa explained.
He added that NCI-K conducts sensitization campaigns nationwide to educate the public about cancer, encouraging early screening and testing, particularly among those aged 40 and above. Wekesa revealed that the institute would remain in West Pokot County for an extended period to conduct cancer awareness and sensitization programs aimed at reducing the cancer burden in the region.
On cervical cancer, Wekesa pointed to the World Health Organization’s global ’90-70-90 strategy,’ which aims to eliminate cervical cancer as a public health problem. During the county’s five-day free screening exercise, over 5,000 girls were screened for HPV, a significant milestone in the fight against cervical cancer. He urged other counties to replicate West Pokot’s efforts, noting the approaching global timeline to eliminate cervical cancer.
Dr. Samson Ndege, a technical advisor with AMPATH, a program of Moi University and Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, noted that while AMPATH primarily runs HIV/AIDS programs, it also integrates care for chronic diseases, including cancer. He stressed the importance of integrating services so that patients seeking HIV treatment at county health facilities could also be screened for cancer, hypertension, diabetes, and other chronic conditions.
Dr. Ndege urged the public to understand that cancer screening does not equate to having cancer but rather aids in early detection.
