Chair of the First Ladies Association, Hon.Nazi Kivutha and Mama Dorothy Nyongo welcomed at the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral hospital in Kisumu.The duo led a delegation to evaluate  cancer responsiveness within Kisumu County. Photo by Jacob Owiti.

By Lorraine Anyango.

Kisumu County lacks data in cancer management that would be instrumental to inform decisions in investments as well as patients follow up.

This challenge has been fueled by lack of data collection tools, registers and, summary tools among other requirements.

The county also needs linkages with private hospitals in submission of cancer statistics from the facilities.

While giving a progressive report  on the cancer situation in Kisumu County, the county health director Dr Dicken Onyango said that data in cancer should be as developed as data captured in the management of HIV and Aids condition.

Dr. Onyango noted that only cervical cancer indicators are well captured and reported on DHIS, against the background of other cancers documented to exits in the county, however one cannot be able to trace the where about of those patients.

“The focus has been on cervical cancer screening, the other cancers are neglected due to inadequately defined indicators.” Dr Onyango said while calling on partners to aid in developing an integrated cancer surveillance system that captures and reports data for all cancers.

The scantly available data shows that in the last ten years, Kisumu county registered 402 cases of breast cancer, 365 identified esophagus cancer, 324 kaposis sarcoma, 328 cancer of the cervix’s, 171  prostate cancer and 164 lyomphoma cancer.

The records further indicate 124 people in Kisumu suffered from cancer of the liver (hepatoma), 76 had colorectum cancer, 46 cancer of the stomach, 45 cancer of the ovary, 26 osteogenic sarcoma and 24 multiple mveloma.

Since 1998 to date there are 22 cancers of the bladder recorded in Kisumu County, another 20 cancer of the pancrease, 15 thyroid cancer , 12 bronchus cancer, 12 endomethium cancer, 11 cancer of the vulva, 10 cancer of the penis, 4 cancer of the stomach and 8 unspecified cancers.

Within the county, cancer patients are receiving interventions and treatment in cryotherapy, surgical intervention and thermo-coagulation

Kisumu County has several cancer screening locations, including JOOTRH, KCRH, Chulaimbo, Kombewa, Ahero, Nyakach, Nyahera, Muhoroni, Gita, Migosi, Lumumba, Rabuor, Airport HC, Ober Kamoth, Kodiaga HC, Katito, Manyuanda, Nyangoma and Bodi.

The county has a total of 19 sites able to screen cervical cancer (Vili/Via) and three sites for I breast, Five sites for cytotherapy and another five with thermo coagulation devices. Kisumu hospice offer palliative care while JOOTRH offers oncology clinic, diagnosis thermotherapy starter package and it’s also the proposed cancer comprehensive center.

The highest number of screening done in Kisumu includes cervical cancer and breast cancer, the screening is done by roughly 30 nurses trained in cervical cancer screening while the county has only 2 oncologists, one at JOOTRH and another in Maseno.

However , there is inadequate opportunities for continuous professional development due to lack of funding for staff who wish to pursue long-term training in oncology – nurses, clinical officers, doctors.

For the last nine months there has been a documented decrease amounting to 324 in the number of cervical cancer receiving via/Vili and an increase of cervical cancer patients on Pap smear while cancer patients with positive Via/vili results increased with 62.

In the same period the number of cervical cancer with suspicious cancer lesions increased by on while 40 more patients were treated using cyotherapty.

The county has partnered with KMET, Africa Cancer Foundation, to support cancer patients, however due to high cost of treating cancer, patients rely on universal Health coverage (UHC), NHIF and cash from funds drives, though funding gaps for patients in the county exists in chemotherapy and diagnostic services – CT scan, MRI.

Apart from gaps in data, the county still has to grapple with inadequate equipment, lack of radiotherapy, few numbers of cancer care staff including specialist.

The screening programs are also working in alone, there is no integrated screening program for all cancers.

Some of the recommendations that Dr Onyango gave included initiating an integrated cancer screening program rather than stand alone as well as development of on integrated cancer surveillance systems that captures and records data from all centers.

“There is need to support dissemination of cervical cancer information through community dialogue as well as partner to support dialogue forums for sub county dissemination of information on cancer.” Dr Onyango added.