Kisumu County government has been challenged to initiate and support cancer awareness programs to improve the health status of locals.
Kisumu county nominated MCA Lydia Odhaimbo speaking on Wednesday at Kisumu County Hospital at a forum organised by the United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef), challenged the county government to team up with health department to educate residents and provide cancer-screening equipment.
"Many people are not knowledgeable about various issues that surround cancer-related diseases. If the county government can initiate awareness campaigns many lives can be saved," she said.
She further noted that some types of cancer are caused by avoidable behaviors’ like smoking and alcoholism, saying if locals are properly guided they could change such lifestyles that make them vulnerable.
“Let’s help our people by improving their health standards, cancer screening and education should be frequently done as diseases like breast and chest cancer are very severe and they can lead to death,” said Odhiambo.
Kisumu county cancer health educator Tabitha Omollo said that equipment related to cancer treatment and detection need to be provided. She affirmed that if cancer education for the public was frequently conducted lives could be saved.
“We need to help the locals to have better living and improved health, this can be done by coming up with several health education forums in gatherings we attend like church services” she said.