By Charles Muya | Programme Officer
CREATION OF AWARENESS ON CANCER AT ALL LEVELS IN KENYA – GG4551
PROJECT UPDATE REPORT- Q7 – March 10th 2022 – July 10th 2022
INTRODUCTION:
The Kenyan Network of Cancer Organizations (KENCO) is the National umbrella body of over 40 registered cancer civil society organizations, spread throughout the country, active in various aspects of cancer control in Kenya and committed to a united approach to cancer control.
KENCO has been part of the GlobalGiving community since March 2020 through our project ‘Creating cancer awareness at various levels in Kenya.’ The project’s aim is to raise the levels of awareness on cancer and its management among health workers, patients, caregivers and the general public. The project will ensure that cancer education materials are consistently provided to patients and caregivers in cancer centres across the country by oncology health workers trained to effectively communicate with cancer patients. The project aims to train 60 health workers, print and distribute over 100 cancer counselling flipcharts to the health workers, print and distribute over 15,000 cancer and caregiver booklets and print and distribute over 50,000 cancer IECs for the general public. To date, KENCO has managed to raise $16,689 (including bonuses) out of a target of $ 25,000.
ACHIEVEMENTS:
During the reporting period, KENCO has managed to achieve the following:
Distribution of Cancer Education Booklets for Patients and Caregivers
With the funds raised from GlobalGiving, and with further support from the American Cancer Society in response to the pressing need for the information booklets for those newly diagnosed with cancer, KENCO managed to distribute a total of 3,200 cancer education booklets to 9 health facilities providing cancer services throughout the country during the reporting period. The health facilities will then distribute these booklets to newly diagnosed cancer patients or their caregivers alongside structured counseling provided as part of the Program. We believe that by empowering newly diagnosed cancer patients with information on cancer, we will relieve a bit of their anxiety, promote better management of the disease and thereby promoting healing/quality of life of these patients.
Creation of awareness on cancer among the general public
KENCO, in collaboration with other stakeholders has continuously been raising public awareness on cancer through social and mass media platforms and through virtual/physical gatherings as follows:
Health Workers and General Public Webinars on Cancer Survivorship
June is cancer survivorship month. KENCO Conducted 2 webinars targeting health workers and members of the general public. The webinars were aimed at promoting a deeper understanding of cancer survivorship and the required post-treatment support for cancer patients among the target audience. The health workers webinar was attended by over 700 health workers from across the country while 69 people attended the general public webinar.
Social Media Campaigns
KENCO continuously undertakes social media campaigns on cancer themed around various cancer commemoration days/months. KENCO has developed various social media toolkits where various messages on cancer are shared during various cancer commemoration months, reaching thousands of people with information in the process. During the reporting period, KENCO has shared messages on social media on cancer survivorship in June and Kaposi Sarcoma in July among others. The messages have reached over 5,000 people.
FUTURE PLANS
Distribution of Materials
KENCO will continue monitoring supplies in partner health facilities and will be on standby to distribute more booklets to those facilities that need them.
Creation of awareness on cancer through various channels – KENCO will continue to create awareness on cancer among the general public through various platforms including social media, mainstream media, virtual events, physical events and through distribution of IEC materials.
CONCLUSION:
Improving cancer awareness among cancer patients and their caregivers gives hope to cancer patients and inspires them to positively accept their diagnosis, adhere to treatment regimens and manage their conditions better, leading to better health outcomes and survivorship. Creating cancer awareness among the general public promotes cancer prevention and routine screening which will ensure early detection and assure better treatment outcomes. This will ultimately reduce the cancer burden in the country.We are grateful to all our donors who have continued to donate to our project and thus being part of our success. We believe that together we shall achieve the objectives of our project to the benefit of newly diagnosed cancer patients and the general public.
By Charles Muya | Programme Officer
By Charles Muya | Programme Officer
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