Nakuru women leaders now want the government to introduce mandatory cancer testing in schools.
Speaking on Sunday, they pointed out that early detection of cancer greatly increases the chances for successful treatment.
"Majority of schools carry out drug and pregnancy tests for girls and they take the necessary actions. The same should also apply to cancer as this will especially help in dealing with the disease at the prevention stage," Viwandani MCA Eunice Wambui Mureithi said.
She stressed that cancer awareness campaigns in schools should be carried out calling to attention the current state of neglect. Mureithi said that a special kitty should also be introduced for such campaigns.
"We can prevent a lot of deaths if cases are diagnosed at an early stage," she added.
She pointed out that the disease was not getting enough attention as it should
"Majority of the children do not know what causes cancer and how it can be prevented. The same attention being given to HIV/AIDS should also be given to cancer,” she said.
Nominated MCA Esther Njeri Magere suggested that cancer awareness should be introduced to the school curriculum in the social studies lessons.
"The teachers should also be taught how to handle children with special cases like cancer. Even primary school children are now getting leukemia and cervical cancer and hence their handlers would need to know how to give them the specialized attention," she said