In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Makueni County’s First Lady, Anita Mutula, has launched a transformative initiative offering free breast and cervical cancer screenings. The launch took place on Wednesday at the Mother and Child Hospital in Wote, marking a significant step towards enhancing health services in the region.
The initiative, led by First Lady Anita, is focused on promoting early detection and preventive healthcare. By advocating for free screenings, she aims to improve access to life-saving diagnostic services for the local community.
In her address, First Lady Anita highlighted troubling statistics from the Makueni Referral Hospital’s Empower Clinic, noting that 70.2% of cancer patients in the county are diagnosed at stage 4, with an additional 23.5% diagnosed at stage 3. “Routine screenings are crucial,” she emphasized, urging both men and women to prioritize regular check-ups. According to her, early detection is essential to reducing the rising cancer burden and fostering a proactive approach to health.
She also voiced concern over the high prevalence of prostate cancer found in men during a recent county medical camp, underscoring the need for targeted awareness and intervention in the region.
Since its inception, the Empower Clinic has served as a crucial resource in Makueni County’s fight against cancer, having assisted over 1,000 patients and provided essential treatment and support services.
At the event, cancer survivors Rose Munini and Nicholas Musyoka shared their personal recovery stories, expressing gratitude for the care they received at the Empower Clinic, which helped bring them into remission. Their testimonies served as powerful reminders of the impact accessible cancer treatment has on the community.
First Lady Anita was joined by key partners supporting the initiative, including representatives from Savanna Informatics Global Health, Roche-Kenya, the National Cancer Institute, several members of the County Assembly, and county officials like Chief Officers Dr. Stephen Ndolo, Dr. Harvey Mulei, and Felistus Mutune. Together, they pledged to continue expanding these essential health services across the county.
