Lake Region counties first ladies are in Trans Nzoia County for a cervical cancer awareness event at the Kiminini Catholic in Kiminini Sub-County.
The group, led by Emily Nyaribo of Nyamira County, joined Trans Nzoia’s Lillian Natembeya to advocate for the disease, which is the fourth most prevalent cancer in women globally and the fourth leading cause of cancer-related deaths.
The team also included Betty Mutai (Kericho County), Saline Barchok (Bomet County), Janet Barasa (Kakamega County), and Betty Mlungi Orengo (Siaya County).
The spouses showed commitment to working with other partners to support health practices that will contribute to the disease’s containment, such as getting an HPV vaccination for girls by the age of 14 and having regular screening tests, among other things.
They said most cancer patients discover they are infected when the disease is at stage four, which is challenging to contain since managing it is even more expensive with the nearest cancer center in this region being in Eldoret.
The Trans County statistics indicate that 9,252 people were screened for cervical cancer, with 818 testing positive, making a total of 12,394 people who have been tested for HPV for the first time.
As this happens, the county government is also looking forward to providing cancer monitoring services to residents who are infected so that the disease can be treated before it reaches Stage 4.
Mike Musungu is a reporter at Radio Simba in Bungoma and a correspondent of Trans Nzoia County for the Western Kenya Times.