Nakuru County Director of Medical Services Dr Solomon Sirma has raised alarm over rising cases of cancer in the county.
Speaking when he led the Nakuru Hospice Cancer Walk over the weekend, Dr Sirma said that over 5000 people in Nakuru are living with cancer.
He noted that due to lack of awareness, many locals have the disease but they don’t know.
“Cancer statistics in Nakuru should raise an alarm to policy makers and medics. The situation is serious and needs urgent interventions,” he warned.
Dr Sirma observed that women are the most affected adding that there is need for the public to be taught on causes, symptoms and effects of the disease for prevention.
He cited breast and cervical cancer among women as the most common.
Dr Sirma appealed to women to go for regular breast and cervical cancer check-ups.
He also asked men to go for check-ups noting that they too are at risk of getting the disease. Dr Sirma attributed the rise in cancer cases to poor eating habits and lack of exercise.
The Nakuru Medical director said the government has put in place measures to curb cancer and other non-communicable disease.