There was a renewed focus on cancer treatment at Afya House on Tuesday after AMPATH Kenya launched a new programme aimed at helping patients with breast cancer across the country.
The new initiative, which will take three years, has been termed the Integrated Model for Access, Retention, and Advanced Breast Cancer Care. During the launch, the Principal Secretary for Medical Services, Ouma Oluga, was briefed on the new plan to deal with breast cancer in the country.
AMPATH officials explained to Oluga that the new initiative will take a comprehensive look at the issue, from creating awareness in villages and estates across the country to the diagnosis, treatment, and subsequent follow-up for the patients. According to the officials, many women are coming to the hospital with their condition in an advanced stage. However, with this new initiative, the organization will focus on creating awareness in the villages so that women are not ignorant about the condition. In addition, the health personnel will also be equipped with appropriate training to deal with breast cancer patients.
The project also includes the concept of structured patient navigation. In simpler terms, the patients will not be left to wander from office to office alone. A referral system is included in the plan to assist them in the diagnosis and treatment of the disease.
AMPATH also stated that the programme can yield valuable data that can inform the development of cancer policy in the country in the future.
Dr Oluga welcomed the development, saying that the treatment of breast cancer requires going beyond hospital boundaries.
He encouraged the community-based treatment of the disease, saying that the needs of the patients should be prioritized while using technology to resolve day-to-day problems that include long distances to hospitals and the cost of transportation.
The programme is expected to enhance the treatment of breast cancer in the country and can potentially reduce the mortality rate of women suffering from the disease.
