By Charles Muya | Programme Officer
CREATION OF AWARENESS ON CANCER AT ALL LEVELS IN KENYA – GG4551
PROJECT UPDATE REPORT- Q5 – November 10th 2021 - March 10th 2022
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 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 $16,175 (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 5,150 cancer education booklets, 110 counselling flipcharts and 96 communication tip sheets to 32 health facilities proving 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. 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. They following is feedback that we have received from beneficiaries: “The cancer education materials are really helpful to us as health workers in breaking down complex and technical cancer information to the patients” – Felix from Kisii level 5 Hospital. “Our health facility has been getting very good feedback from patients on how the materials have been helping them especially in making treatment decisions” – Josephine from Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral and Research Hospital. “Patients who have been receiving the booklets have been helping in creation of awareness on cancer in their villages using the information they’ve gotten from the health workers and patient booklets” – Evelyne from International Cancer Institute, Eldoret, Kenya
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:
Cervical Cancer Awareness Month
KENCO joined other stakeholders in commemorating cervical cancer awareness month in January 2022 and took this opportunity to create awareness on cervical cancer through various ways: Public webinar via Zoom/Facebook live public webinar to create awareness on cervical cancer which was held on January 6 and reached over 150 people; mainstream media interviews on cervical cancer, social media campaign and physical commemoration event held in Migori County which all served to create awareness on cervical cancer.
World Cancer Day
World Cancer Day is commemorated globally on 4th February each year. KENCO joined other stakeholders in undertaking various activities around commemoration of world cancer day. KENCO took the opportunity to create awareness on cancer in general and the world cancer day theme of closing the care gap in particular though various channels including mainstream media, social media and physical commemoration event held in Mombasa County, Kenya.
International Childhood Cancers Day
International childhood cancer day is commemorated annually on 15th February. KENCO joined other stakeholders in organizing a girl’s football tournament in Nairobi as part of international childhood cancer day commemorations. The tournament’s aim was to create awareness on childhood cancers.
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 with various messages on cancer shared during various cancer commemoration months, reaching thousands of people with information in the process. During the reporting period, KENCO has shared messages on cervical cancer, cancer in general and childhood cancers during the commemoration
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. KENCO has planned a major round of distribution of materials in April 2022.
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.
Links:
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