Cancer has claimed many lives and many have survived too, those that have died have proven to us that there is dignity in letting go even the spirit is willing if the body is giving way, those that soldier on have proven to us that we should not wallow in self-pity and give up without a fight if our bodies and spirit are willing to fight.
Those that have survived cancer diagnosis have taught us one thing, the fight shall be won and one day, same cancer, that has killed as many have fought it, shall also die.
Winning over cancer however shall not happen without major changes of attitude in our leadership and health care system, priorities must change, and leadership has to get off its comfort zone, dashing from country to country garnering ludicrous ideas.
Kenya celebrates men and women, whose life mostly ended at the climax of their lives and after which Kenyans must have hoped that the Government would promptly kick in to sort the healthcare gap that exists in the treatment of Cancer.
Below are a number of people who have succumbed to cancer and left the hope that maybe, just maybe, our legislators would pass policies to ensure sufficient healthcare providence.
Bob Collymore
Bob succumbed to Acute Myeloid Leukemia two years after a late diagnosis by 6 months. Bob’s life would most definitely have been saved with a timely diagnosis, but well, it happened, what can be done to avoid such lives being lost?
Bob had earlier been misdiagnosed with a vitamin D deficiency and blood-related cancer cost him a down payment of 100,000 shillings at Nairobi hospital to just have the tests done yet the diagnosis did not happen.
The doctor who was seeing Bob at the time recommended that he flew to the United Kingdom that same night to be at the hands of a hematologist which Bob did in the company of his wife, Wambui.
The unspoken reality is that for a financially average Kenyan who is heavily taxed and exploited, the mere 100, 000 shillings that were required to have the bone marrow test done would have taken a Harambee that would have seen one literally begging to raise for months.
Professor Wangari Maathai
Professor Wangari Maathai whom we all as Kenyans remember for winning the Nobel Peace prize and championing the protection of the environment died on 25th September 2011 from ovarian cancer at a Nairobi hospital.
Kenya lost a great leader if Wangari had known she would lose her life to cancer, would she have drafted the right bill to bring sufficient cancer treatment closer home and provide sufficient free mandatory screening? What has the legislators she left behind done to ensure the number of lives lost to cancer reduces through early diagnosis? NOTHING!
Nyeri Governor, Nderitu Gachagua
Nderitu Gachagua, the first Governor of Nyeri County died on 24th February 2017 at the Royal Marsden Hospital in London where he had gone for treatment after he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
Ben Oluoch
The Migori Senator, Ben Oluoch, died at MP Shah Hospital in Nairobi in June 2018 after battling throat cancer.
Oluoch, 52, had visited India twice and was at the time admitted at Nairobi’s MP Shah.
Leaders Who Have Survived Cancer
BETH MUGO
Beth Mugo is a survivor of breast cancer and was diagnosed in January 2012 at the age of 73 years.
Beth Mugo then served as the country’s Public Health Cabinet Minister which is likely to have helped in easing her treatment.
Beth is, however, the one only political leader who seems to have taken a step to help in solving the cancer problem through the Beth Mugo Foundation which mobilizes support for enhanced access to breast, cervical and prostate cancer information, screening and referral for improved prevention, early detection, and treatment.
ANYANG’ NYONG’O
Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o is a survivor of prostate cancer. He was diagnosed with the disease in July 2010. Despite him receiving treatment overseas, he has always emphasized the need for Kenyans to go for early screening so as to avoid any late detection.
Francis Waititu
Francis Waititu, the Juja Member of Parliament was diagnosed with brain cancer and flew to India in such of treatment.
Waititu was lucky to have been diagnosed early and given his social class; treatment was easier to access and was declared cancer-free in March.
Other politicians who have died of cancer include the Baringo South MP Grace Kipchoim, former Ganze MP Joseph Kingi and ex-ministers David Mwiraria and Gilbert M’Mbijiwe
Over 63 Members of Parliament Out OF Country in Search of Cancer Treatment
When Francis Waititu came back to the Country from India where he had been for treatment, he landed with a shocking revelation; thousands of Kenyans were stuck in India seeking cancer treatment.
“I met hundreds of cancer patients from Kenya alone. Among them were nine of my fellow MPs and four Senators. The cancer scourge is enormous and we can no longer afford to bury our heads in the sand. We must get out and talk about it,” he said.
Among the thousands of Kenyans who were in India seeking treatment, were over 60 MPs and Senators, MP Waititu put the number at 63.
“The situation is serious. We have for example about 63 MPs and thousands of other Kenyans suffering from cancer. We must get out and talk about it boldly,” Waititu said.
Waititu had met nine legislators and four senators in person during his treatment period in India. Waititu confirmed that he had spent 8 million shillings during his treatment in India which is far from affordable to the majority of Kenyans.
The reality of Cancer Patients in Kenya: The Rich versus the Common Mwananchi
The numbers of people who can afford to travel to London in Kenya are countable with a majority being politicians who pocket a huge chunk of the taxpayer’s money, interestingly; literally, all the taxpayers stand a chronic illness away from poverty while a majority cannot even afford basic health services.
What ought to be done to ensure the timely diagnosis is known but those put in place to ensure a solution are oblivious of their responsibilities as our leaders continue to channel their money into harambees and public manipulation through bedding the media.
Sorry State of Kenyan Cancer Patients in India
Out of the 8million shillings, Waititu spent during his treatment in India, 1.8 million shillings went to cater for housing alone.
A majority of the Kenyans in India in search of cancer treatment spend nights on the street as they cannot afford to pay for housing, they are a lucky lot.
It is most unfortunate for Kenyan patients who traveled to India and ran out of funds to even seek treatment as they hang around the streets awaiting their loved ones to carry harambees and send them whatever they can, these too are a luckier lot.
There are those that are stranded in the streets of India, stuck, confused and awaiting death if not a miracle as they have run out of funds and have since turned into beggars, now these are not so lucky but then again, there are those stuck in lonely rooms in Kenya, unable to seek treatment and lay waiting for death.
This is the reality Kenyan wealthy cancer patients versus poor cancer patients. How money changes one’s importance cannot be overlooked, if only the tens of politicians desperately seeking treatment in India could bring the services home, if only the strong and able legislatures would stop behaving as if they are immune to cancer and vote in bills that would save their lives and those of their loved ones tomorrow if not today.