Gertrude’s Children’s Hospital is hosting its Annual Cancer Walk for the third time, aiming to gather funds for improving early cancer diagnosis and treatment in children. Scheduled for March 17, 2024, this event is integral to Kenya’s paediatric Cancer Programme, striving to decrease paediatric cancer mortality rates.
The walk, commencing from Uhuru Gardens in Lang’ata, offers two routes: a 13-kilometer circuit for adults and teenagers, and a shorter 5-kilometer path tailored for smaller children. Dr. Robert Nyarango, Gertrude’s Children’s Hospital CEO, urges public participation to boost awareness and raise crucial funds. These funds are vital for expanding the Hospital’s initiatives, ultimately reducing preventable cancer deaths in children.
Dr. Nyarango emphasized the urgent need, stating, “Thousands of children are fighting cancer each year, yet many of them are unable to access diagnosis and therefore are not treated.” In 2023, the Hospital’s Cancer Program provided free treatment to over 40 children. This year, they aim to scale up the program with the support of participants, reaching over 1,000 children suffering from treatable cancers nationwide.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), childhood cancer ranks as a leading cause of death globally among children and adolescents. Unfortunately, survival chances are only 30% in low and middle-income countries like Kenya, compared to 80% in higher-income nations.
In Kenya, childhood cancer incidence is estimated at around 3,000 new cases annually, though this figure might be higher due to underreporting caused by lack of awareness. Dr. Thomas Ngwiri, Gertrude’s Children’s Hospital Head of Clinical Services, highlighted the multi-stakeholder approach, which not only funds treatment but also trains healthcare workers to identify symptoms and deliver quality care, thus contributing to reducing cancer-related deaths in children.
Gertrude’s Hospital initiated the cancer walk in 2019 and resumed it in 2023 after a two-year hiatus during the COVID-19 pandemic.
