By Dr. Izaq Odongo

Ministry of Health, Kenya

Cancer ranks third in causes of mortality after infectious and cardiovascular diseases

Cancer causes 7% of annual mortality

Approximately 41,000 new cancer cases diagnosed annually

Approximately 28,000 deaths annually

National Cancer Control Strategy (2011-2016)

National Guidelines for Cancer Management in Kenya (2013)

National Guidelines for Palliative Care (2013)

National Cervical Cancer Prevention Program Strategic Plan (2012-2015)

National Guidelines for Prevention and Management of Cervical, Breast and Prostate Cancers

US Government –

National Institutes of Health,

Centers for Disease and Prevention and Control and its implementing partners

USAID and its implementing partners such as AMPATH

Examples of Activities in Kenya

Conduct capacity building for cancer screening and treatment;

Studies of cancers associated with chronic infection including HPV

Development of various policy and cancer management guidelines

Management of cancer patients

Workshop Goals:

To understand constituents and process of establishing an NCI in Kenya

To increase capacity for cancer control and management efforts to decrease the cancer burden in Kenya

To improve coordination among Government, NGO and private institutions

To craft action plans to address gaps in vital areas to reduce morbidity and mortality

To leverage existing research capacity, human resource capacity, relationships & infrastructure

To build on networks and foster new collaborations between stakeholders

To translate existing research findings into information for policy making

Attended by 80 stakeholders from:- Ministry of Health departments Academia Institutions (private and public) National Referral Hospitals Private Hospitals NGO network County Government representative Development & Implementing Partners Faith based hospitals Research Institutions eg. KEMRI

Executed a two-day workshop

Presentations were made of current situation from:◦ MOH National level

◦ Cancers centers in the public and private sector

◦ Research institutions

◦ Faith Based institutions

◦ Palliative Care- Kenya Hospices and Palliative Care Association

4 thematic groups were formed to develop action-focused plans

Track 1 – Strengthening Cancer Control and Care through Clinical Research

Track 2 – Strengthening Cancer Control and Care through Pathology and Cancer Registries

Track 3 – The public, the patient and the community health worker: Cancer awareness and education

Track 4 – Creating, implementing and integrating sustainable Cancer Care in Kenya

Strengthen coordination of various cancer control stakeholders

Building existing infrastructure and in-country networks

Creating partnerships among external partners

Capacity build healthcare workers to improve access to comprehensive and quality cancer care

Ensure partner investments are integrated into MOH prioritized cancer control plans.

Establish Cancer Technical Working Group

Political will required to drive the cancer agenda forward

Coordination among cancer stakeholders in activities and priorities is crucial

Forge new and strengthening existing networks and partnerships

MoH pro-activeness in identification of gaps and solutions to address them

THANK YOU