Kisumu moves to boost breast cancer screening as cases remain high

Kisumu County is ramping up efforts to integrate breast cancer screening into routine healthcare services to combat the high mortality rate from the disease. According to Dr Gregory Ganda, the County Executive Committee Member for Health, about 7,000 women in Kenya are diagnosed with breast cancer each year, and approximately 2,600 succumb to the illness annually.

Dr Ganda emphasized that breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in women and can be detected early through examination and screening. He noted that only 12% of women of reproductive age in Kisumu had ever undergone a breast examination, while nearly 25% had undergone cervical cancer screening, highlighting the potential for early detection of breast cancer.

The county's breast cancer awareness campaign, themed "Integrate Action for All," aims to encourage health providers to incorporate breast cancer screening whenever women access other health services. With only two facilities in Kisumu capable of offering mammography, Dr Ganda urged women to take advantage of the limited opportunity to undergo the examination, emphasizing that even a single screening could make a significant difference in early detection.

The county has made strides in strengthening its cancer diagnosis and treatment capacity, now boasting breast surgeons, oncologists, specialized pathologists, and sonographers. However, Dr Ganda stressed that the county's improved capacity would be more effective if residents utilized the services.

The county is also developing an integrated wellness program aimed at shifting healthcare from treating illness to preventing disease and detecting conditions earlier. This program includes physical wellness centers and is being expanded to virtual wellness, with a focus on mental health services. The digital system will allow residents to self-assess their health and enable community health workers to assist those unable to use the application.

The system will also flag individuals who have missed recommended screenings, such as HPV and breast cancer screenings, enabling healthcare providers to follow up with patients directly.