Marking World Cancer Day
This year on the 4th Feb 2020, World Cancer Day’s theme, (“I Am and I Will,”) is all about you and your commitment to act. The belief that through each and everyone’s positive actions, together we can reach the target of reducing the number of premature deaths from cancer and noncommunicable diseases by one third by 2030.
It is estimated that 50% of tea farmers are above the age of 60 years. Unfortunately, this is the cohort that is most vulnerable to non-communicable diseases (NCD) and other health issues related to the elderly. Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) have emerged as a major disease burden for the poor communities and government. These diseases account for more than 50 per cent of hospital admissions in Kenya. The major NCDs include diabetes, cancer, high blood pressure and kidney diseases
Cancer is the 3rd leading cause of death after infectious and cardiovascular diseases. The annual incidence of cancer was estimated at 47,887 new cancer cases, with an annual mortality 32,987 in 2018. Among men, Prostate, Esophageal and Colorectal are the leading cancers, while among women, Breast, Cervical and Esophageal cancers are most common. The leading cause of cancer death in Kenya is Esophageal cancer contributing 13.2 % (4,351 deaths) of cancer mortality. Cervical cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death contributing 10% (3,266 deaths) while Breast cancer comes in third at 7.7% (2,553 deaths) (GLOBOCAN, 2018).