By Lorraine Anyango. Kisumu is grappling with a critical challenge in its fight against cancer: a significant number of patients are dropping out of treatment before completion. This alarming trend was highlighted during a recent visit by Roche Pharmaceuticals’ Vice President, Maturin Tchoumi, who emphasized the need for urgent interventions to address the issue.
Conversations on optimizing patient flow in the screening, treatment, and management of cervical and breast cancer took center stage during the visit also graced by Ms Jacqueline Wambua, General Manager of Roche Pharmaceuticals East Africa; Mama Kisumu County Dorothy Nyongo; and Dr. Gregory Ganda, County Executive Committee Member for Medical Services, Public Health, and Sanitation.
The visit provided an opportunity to review the achievements and challenges faced by Mpower in cancer identification and management. A notable success highlighted was the increased demand for services, evidenced by the screening of approximately 18 patients in a single day. However, the visit also underscored significant gaps in service delivery, particularly regarding patient retention through the entire treatment cycle.
The delegation observed that a significant number of patients drop out of the treatment process after initial screening, which has contributed to increased mortality rates. During their tour of the Mpower clinic, where women undergo cancer screening and initial treatment, Mr. Tchoumi emphasized the need to transform the clinic into a comprehensive one-stop facility. This would address the issue of patient drop-off by providing both screening and treatment in a single location.
The team commended the clinic’s thermocoagulation machine and suggested incorporating biopsy machines to reduce the need for external referrals. Many patients who are referred fail to return for subsequent appointments, often resulting in late-stage diagnoses. Wilbroda Atiba, a cancer screening and family planning nurse, proposed enhancing patient privacy by conducting all procedures within the Mpower room rather than frequently utilizing Room 16, which is also used for training.
Discussions also focused on reducing waiting times for pap smear results and improving the payment process to ease access to cancer-related services. The Mpower clinic’s mission includes increasing cancer awareness through education, facilitating early detection with regular screenings, providing high-standard treatment, and creating a decentralized referral system across the county.
The Enabling and Motivating Partnership Owned by Women to Engage and Reclaim their lives (EMPOWER) project, is being implemented by the County First Ladies Association (CFLA) in collaboration with Roche, Women 4 Cancer, and the Africa Cancer Foundation, aims to enhance cancer prevention, early diagnosis, and treatment. The project seeks to establish a comprehensive ecosystem to effectively tackle the challenges of cancer detection and treatment. The delegation was welcomed at the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) by Dr. Dedan Ongong’a, Director of Clinical Services and Deputy Chief Executive Officer; Dr. Joshua Okise, Director of Administration and Finance; and Teresa Okiri, Director of Nursing, among others.