Nairobi: The Ministry of Health, through the National Cancer Control Program (NCCP), in collaboration with the World Health Organisation (WHO) and other partners, has urged the media to be accurate when reporting about cancer ailments in order to curb misinformation and stigma associated with the disease.
According to Kenya News Agency, during a media sensitisation forum on cancer reporting in Nairobi, Dr. Joan Bor, Head of NCCP, emphasized the vital role of media in shaping perceptions about cancer treatment and dispelling myths and misconceptions concerning cervical and breast cancers. Dr. Bor highlighted the importance of training media personnel to ensure accurate and responsible cancer reporting, which is crucial for advocating cancer prevention, early detection, and treatment to improve outcomes.
Ms. Benda Kithaka, the founder of Kilele Health Association, also urged journalists to focus on stories that offer hope and a human perspective. She stressed the media’s role in raising awareness and promoting behavior change to enhance health outcomes. Kithaka emphasized the need for media houses to invest in research and for media practitioners to engage in informed dialogue.
WHO Kenya Country Officer Dr. Joyce Nato pointed out that cervical cancer is curable with early detection and regular screening for women aged 35-49 years. She mentioned WHO’s commitment to addressing cervical cancer through the 90-70-90 targets, which involve vaccination, screening, and treatment efforts.
Journalists at the forum expressed the need for collaboration between the Ministry, medical practitioners, and other stakeholders to improve cancer and health condition reporting. Journalist Tabitha Rotich highlighted challenges such as limited feedback from the Ministry and a lack of current data to support health reporting.
A report by the National Cancer Control Strategy (NCCS) reveals that Kenya faces a significant cancer burden, with over 45,000 new cases and 29,000 deaths annually. Cervical cancer remains the most common malignancy among women, with 5,845 new cases and 3,591 deaths each year, indicating that nine women die of cancer daily.
To address this, Kenya is implementing the Women’s Integrated Cancers (WICs) project as part of its NCCS and WHO-led cervical cancer elimination initiative. This pilot project aims to enhance access to breast and cervical cancer detection, treatment, and care services in Nyandarua and Bungoma counties by integrating these services into primary healthcare with non-communicable disease management.