Like Agallo, she also blamed the high cost of cancer treatment and the treatment of complications arising from cancer, for the high mortality rate.
“Cancer doesn’t have to be a death sentence but in Kenya it often is. Private treatment options are so expensive that people opt for India. What about those who cannot even raise the funds for that? They’re forced to depend on public facilities and how many times do the machines at Kenyatta break down? What are the cancer cells doing in the intervening period? They’re multiplying.”
Korir therefore called for collaboration between the private and public health sectors to bring down the cost of cancer treatment. “While KNH machines are overworked and breaking down, we have those in private facilities underutilised and in some cases and in some cases lying idle due to prohibitive costs.”
The Kenyan edition of the Relay for Life will be held at the Nyayo National Stadium from noon on October 10 to noon on October 11.
T-Shirts for the event are available at the Kenya Cancer Association offices at the Kenyatta National Hospital grounds for Sh1,200.
“It’s not a marathon,” Korir made clear. “We shall run around the track, there’ll be activities for kids, screening and musical performances. If you can only make it between 11pm and 2am it’s fine. We’ll be waiting.”
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