By Charles Muya | Programme Officer
CREATION OF AWARENESS ON CANCER AT ALL LEVELS IN KENYA – GG4551
PROJECT UPDATE REPORT- Q8 – July 10th 2022 – November 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 slightly over $17,000 (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 5,460 cancer education booklets to 18 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:
During the reporting period, KENCO conducted 3 webinars for members of general public and 3 webinars for health workers all focusing on Kaposi’s Sarcoma, Ovarian Cancer and Leukemia. The webinars reached over 150 members of the general public and over 2,500 health workers with information on these cancers.
KENCO also undertook social media campaigns on Kaposi’s Sarcoma, ovarian cancer, breast cancer and Leukemia during the reporting period through structured social media toolkits developed and shared as scheduled across various social media channels reaching over fifty thousand people with information in the process.
In addition, and with further support from Janssen pharmaceutical, KENCO printed 45,000 cancer IEC materials in form of brochures. The materials will be distributed to the members of the general public through various channels/forums. So far, over 4,000 brochures have been distributed.
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 training 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.
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