There are at least 5,000 cervical cancer cases recorded in Kenya annually ranking it among the top 20 countries in the world with the highest cases of this type of cancer.
In 2020, there were 5,236 cervical cancer cases recorded in Kenya. Out of this, 3,211 died from the cancer.
Dr. Pacifica Onyancha, the Medical Services Preventive and Promotive Health Director during the launch of the National Cervical Cancer Awareness Week in Nanyuki said this can be prevented.
She noted that cervical cancer is the most preventable form of cancer through the HPV vaccine which is being offered at no charge for girls aged 10.
Dr Onyancha called on women to embrace screening saying that only 16 percent of women in Kenya have been screened.
Oncologists say that cervical cancer can be prevented from degenerating to terminal levels which makes treatment difficult if it is detected early enough.
The Ministry of Health projects reducing the spread of cancer and deaths by 50 per cent in the next nine years.
Dr Onyancha said to achieve this, the administration of HPV Vaccine is will play a huge role in making this a relating.
She dispelled feats that the vaccine is a form of family planning which has discouraged many girls from getting the jab.
She assured parents that the government introduced the vaccine to protect the lives of young girls who in advanced ages, develop cervical cancer.
