Kisumu County Executive for Health Dr. Elizabeth Ogaje has asked School Principals and Head teachers to protect students with cancer and other lifestyle illnesses from stigma.
The CeC noted that students with cancer normally face stigmatisation and at times public ridicule from their teachers and fellow students, hence affecting their performance in their class work.
“My Ministry has been conducting a research on the number of cancer students in both public and private schools to learn the challenges faced by the scholars and it came to my attention that most of these youngsters face public ridicule from some of their teachers.
Dr. Ogaje added that ridiculing of such students makes them feel victimised because of their health conditions thus affecting their performance and lowering their morale to continue learning.
School heads should therefore come to the rescue of these victims and ensure that they get similar treatment as their fellows who do not suffer from cancer.
This situation also applies to other lifestyle illnesses such s diabetes and both high and low blood pressure,”said Dr Ogaje.
Speaking during the closing ceremony of a 2-day health seminar at a Kisumu Hotel, Dr. Ogaje said that her Ministry was willing to help cancer students to learn in a fair environment.