Residents of Kitui County have been urged to take a proactive role in combating the rising number of cancer-related deaths in the region.
Mwingi municipality Manager Alex Mutemi said while the county government is investing in cancer care, residents must prioritise early screening and treatment.
“We should not always wait for the government to come in and help us. Let us also take proactive steps and seek early treatment to prevent unnecessary deaths,” Mutemi said.
He spoke at Mbauni Village in Mwingi Central during the burial of retired Garissa county director of planning Bernard Mwangangi, who succumbed to liver cancer.
Mutemi said the county administration under Governor Julius Malombe has established a fully equipped cancer centre at Kitui Level 4 Hospital, with plans underway to set up another at Mwingi Level 5 Hospital.
However, he stressed that facilities alone will not reduce mortality unless residents embrace regular screening.
“Many of our people seek medical attention too late for doctors to be of help, whether locally or abroad,” he said.
Aquillas Kithome, a spokesperson for the burial committee, appealed to President William Ruto to declare cancer a national disaster to make treatment more affordable and accessible.
Kithome also urged Governor Malombe to operationalise oncology centres in every sub-county hospital, noting that the pledge was part of his campaign manifesto.
He said families in Kitui are increasingly losing loved ones to cancer, describing the trend as alarming.
