By Charles Muya | Programme Officer
CREATION OF AWARENESS ON CANCER AT ALL LEVELS IN KENYA – GG4551
PROJECT UPDATE REPORT- November 10th 2023 - March 16th 2023
INTRODUCTION:
The Kenyan Network of Cancer Organizations (KENCO) is the National umbrella body of over 45-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 members of 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 $17,101 (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 6,210 cancer education booklets to 21 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. 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: “Cancer education materials received from KENCO, are the only materials used in the facility by health workers in cancer centre and palliative care clinic to break bad news and guide newly diagnosed patients and care givers. The materials are simpler and use a language that is understood by the recipients.” – Florence from Makueni County Referral Hospital. “We receive materials from KENCO which are given out to patients and care givers. They use these materials to educate themselves and other members of the community as they interact. We have members of the community who come to seek for more information about cancer after reading the book” – Josephine from Kakamega Referral Hospital.
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 2023
KENCO joined other stakeholders in commemorating cervical cancer awareness month in January 2023 and took this opportunity to create awareness on cervical cancer through various ways: Public Twitter live chat to create awareness on cervical cancer which was held on January 12; mainstream media interviews on cervical cancer, social media campaign and physical commemoration event held in Embu 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 through various channels including mainstream media, social media and physical commemoration event held in Kasarani Grounds, Nairobi, and Garissa County Referral Hospital in Garissa County.
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 shared messages on prostate cancer, cervical cancer, cancer in general and childhood cancers.
Distribution of IEC materials for the members of the general public.
With support from Janssen pharmaceuticals, KENCO printed 45,000 copies of cancer education brochures in mid-2022. The brochures gives members of the public basic information on cancer. Since printing, KENCO has been distributing these materials to the members of the general public especially through KENCO member organizations and health facilities providing cancer services. During the reporting period, over 5,000 brochures were distributed.
Public and Health Workers Webinars
With support from Janssen pharmaceuticals, KENCO conducts monthly virtual training sessions on various cancers. During the reporting period, 2 webinars for health workers and 2 for the members of the general public were held focusing on prostate cancer and mental health issues in cancer care. The public webinars reached 120 people while the health workers webinars reached over 1800 health workers with various information on cancer.
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 late March and June 2023.
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.
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