Kiambu County Launches Partnership for Oesophageal Cancer Screening

KIAMBU – Residents of Kiambu County are set to benefit from a collaborative effort aimed at enhancing oesophageal cancer screening, following a meeting between local health officials and representatives from the University of Manchester and the Kenyatta University Teaching Referral and Research Hospital (KUTRRH). This initiative is part of a broader engagement to combat the prevalence of oesophageal cancer in the region.

According to Kenya News Agency, the County Executive for Health Services, the partnership involves the University of Manchester, The Christies NHS Foundation Trust, and KUTRRH, focusing on raising awareness and increasing public engagement in oesophageal cancer screening. The collaboration was formalized during a meeting held at Thika Level 5 Hospital, where the delegation, led by Dr. Marion Kiguoya, Deputy Director of Research and Clinical Trials at KUTRRH, outlined plans to introduce mobile detection units for early screening of Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Oesophagus (OSCC).

The International Agency for Cancer Research identifies OSCC as the third most common cancer in Kenya, with a dire prognosis—99 percent of patients succumb to the disease within five years of diagnosis, largely due to late detection. This initiative aims to address the critical challenge of early diagnosis by setting up small screening facilities across Kiambu County, with Thika Level 5 Hospital earmarked as a key location for conducting endoscopies.

Dr. Maina emphasized the strategy of leveraging Community Health Volunteers (CHV) for community-level referrals, aiming to make screening services more accessible to residents. The initiative is expected to bolster early detection of OSCC and strengthen the referral system between county hospitals and KUTRRH.

The delegation’s visit to Kiambu County also included interactions with community units, highlighting the importance of grassroots awareness and involvement in healthcare initiatives. This engagement marks a significant step towards improving cancer research and healthcare services in Kenya, focusing on one of the country’s most lethal cancers.