By Lorraine Anyango
Dr. Yurisleidy Orraca Veliz an oncologist from Cuba wouldn’t have joined Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) at a better time, she comes in when the number of cancer cases are on the rise.
In just one month, specifically in the month of November 2021, JOOTRH registered 45 new cancer cases, within the same month about 213 clients come for follow up while 258 continued with cancer treatment.
Dr. Yurisleidy brings in six years of experience, having worked at Hospital Clíníco Quirúrgico in Cuba as an Oncologist.
“I intend to reduce the number of deaths as a result of cancer, I will join hands with other medics in the country to ensure that we achieve this.” Dr Yurisleidy.
She is hopeful that someday Cuban methods of treatment will be administered in Kenya while appreciated that Kenya has also made huge strides in its health care service delivery.
She expressed joy in having attended to patients during her first week on duty, “Though I have been here for few days I already feel like I have been here for long, the hospitality that I’m being accorded by my colleagues makes me feel at home.” She said.
“They are teaching me Swahili and Luo, and this is really interesting and fun, I can now greet my patients in Luo making it easier for them to open up, presenting myself as one among them and not a foreigner, but a doctor like any other who is out here to help them,” she said added.
“When I came to Kenya I found things here totally different from Cuba, I’m slowly adapting to the changes, in Cuba there is no fee charged when a person is sick, and treatment and medication are free.” She says
“Maybe it is because our population back at home is small and we are a developed country, while in Kenya patients can only be attended to if they have the health insurance cover or cash this may be as a result of the high population and probably because Kenya is still a developing country.” She added.
Dr. Yurisleidy is optimistic that in some years to come Kenya will be a country with an improved health sector, from her observation and experience, Kenya seems to have taken the right direction in matters of health.
She observes that cancer cases are increasing, especially cervical cancer has conquered every part of the country as compared to Cuba.
She advises that emphasizes that preventive measures in reducing such cancers must include regular screening. “Those already diagnosed with cervical cancer ought to continue with treatment while being hopeful.” She adds.
“ People should only suffer from cancer if it’s my fate and not ignorance, So people should stop using food, drinks, and skin care products that would later affect them in the future exposing them to risks of getting cancer.” She adds.
Dr. Yurisleidy pointed out that by doing so, we will eventually reduce the mortality rate as a result of cancer annually.
She believes cancer can easily be prevented than treated and that is the reason why most vegetarians rarely suffer from cancer because the cancer tissues in the body lack the components that propel it.