CREATING CANCER AWARENESS AT ALL LEVELS IN KENYA

CREATION OF AWARENESS ON CANCER AT ALL LEVELS IN KENYA – GG4551

PROJECT UPDATE REPORT- Q3

INTRODUCTION:

The Kenyan Network of Cancer Organizations (KENCO) is the National umbrella body of over 35 registered cancer civil society organizations, spread throughout the country, active in various aspects of cancer control in Kenya and committed to a united response against cancer.

KENCO participated in the GlobalGiving’s March 2020 accelerator campaign for our project entitled ‘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 over $10,423 out of a target of $ 25,000. In addition, KENCO won an extra USD 2,000 (for most unique donors), USD 1,000 (on bonus day) and USD 638 in matching funds during the March accelerator bring the total amount of funds raised to date to slightly over $14,000.

ACHIEVEMENTS:

Despite the disruption brought about by COVID-19 pandemic, KENCO managed to achieve the following:

Distribution of Cancer Education Booklets for Patients and Caregivers

Between November 2020 and February 2021, KENCO has managed to distribute 315 cancer education booklets for patients and caregivers to Kenyatta National Hospital for onward distribution to newly diagnosed cancer patients or their caregivers. Since March 2020 to date, KENCO has distributed over 9,000 booklets to newly diagnosed cancer patients. The booklets contain crucial information on cancer that helps cancer patients or their caregivers to understand and manage their condition better.

Creation of awareness on cancer among the health workers and general public

KENCO, with support from other partners has continuously been raising public awareness on cancer through social and mass media platforms and in some cases through physical gatherings and specifically during various cancer commemoration days/months as follows:

Cervical Cancer Awareness Week in January

January is cervical cancer awareness month. KENCO, together with other partners took this opportunity to create awareness on the disease through social media with an aim of mobilizing women to seek cervical cancer screening services and HPV vaccination for their 10-year-old girls. KENCO also participated in the physical launch of the cervical cancer week on 19^th January 2021 where information on cervical cancer was passed to community members present. Approximately 5,000 people were reached information on cervical cancer through KENCO and other partners.

World Cancer Day

KENCO took lead in organizing commemoration of the 2021 World Cancer Day on 4^th February 2021. The commemoration was held virtually through a webinar where about 250 people attended including the media and which provided an opportunity to create awareness on cancer. KENCO and other partners also carried out a social media campaign where various messages meant to provide factual information on cancer to the members of public were shared across various social media platforms reaching about 5,000 people. As part of the world Cancer Day commemoration, KENCO together with Kenyatta National Hospital and other partners also organized a webinar for health workers focusing on experiences in managing a cancer Centre during COVID-19 period. Over 500 health workers were reached.

International Childhood Cancers Day

KENCO commemorated the International Childhood Cancers Day at Kenya Wildlife Service Headquarters and used this opportunity to create awareness on childhood cancers. As part of the commemoration a few children with cancer were freely offered access to Kenya Wildlife Service facilities namely the Nairobi Safari Walk and Nairobi Animal Orphanage as part of a collaboration between Kenya Wildlife Service and KENCO to offer therapeutic nature safaris to cancer patients to promote healing.

FUTURE PLANS

Printing of Cancer Education Booklets

With the funds raised and disbursed from GlobalGiving, KENCO plans to print about 4,000 copies of cancer education booklets for patients and caregivers.

Distribution of Materials

As soon as the booklets are received from the printers, KENCO will distribute them to partner health facilities for onward distribution to newly diagnosed cancer patients or their caregivers.

Creation of awareness on cancer through various media outlets – KENCO will continue to create awareness on cancer among the general public through the various platforms.

CONCLUSION:

Improving cancer awareness among health workers, cancer patients and their caregivers gives hope to cancer patients and inspires them to positively accept their diagnosis and adhere to treatment regimens 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 open their wallets and donate for us despite the economic uncertainties and difficulties brought about by COVID-19 pandemic. We hope that we shall continue to raise more funds in the GlobalGiving platform to enable us achieve the objectives of our project. We thank all our donors for being part our success so far and we believe that together we shall achieve our goal.