NAIROBI, Kenya, Mar 7 – Gertrude’s Children’s Hospital has raised Sh63.44 million through its Kenya Childhood Cancer Programme, helping 277 children access cancer diagnosis and treatment, even as the hospital warns of a growing funding gap threatening paediatric cancer care.
The milestone was marked during the 5th edition of the Gertrude’s Hospital Cancer Walk held at Uhuru Gardens in Nairobi, where 7,700 participants registered to raise funds and awareness for childhood cancer.
Despite the progress, hospital officials say limited funding continues to hamper efforts to tackle the rising burden of childhood cancer in the country.
Speaking during the walk, Gertrude’s Children’s Hospital Chief Executive Officer Robert Nyarango said survival rates for children diagnosed with cancer in Kenya remain significantly lower than in developed countries.
“It is alarming that the survival gap for children diagnosed with cancer in Kenya is so wide compared to high-income countries. Only one in five children survives, compared to survival rates of up to 80 percent in higher-income nations,” he said.
Nyarango noted that over the past six years, funds raised through the annual cancer walk and related activities have helped support hundreds of children, but the overall need remains far greater.
Kenya records between 3,000 and 3,200 new childhood cancer cases each year, many of which go undiagnosed due to limited diagnostic capacity and the absence of a comprehensive national paediatric cancer registry.
Liza Nyaga, General Manager for Medical Insurance Broking at Zamara Group, which sponsored the walk, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to supporting vulnerable children through its partnership with the hospital.
“We believe that protecting futures is at the heart of everything we do, and no future is as precious as that of a child,” she said.
The annual cancer walk serves as the flagship fundraising initiative for the Kenya Childhood Cancer Programme, alongside golf events and corporate bowling tournaments aimed at mobilising resources for paediatric cancer treatment.
Hospital officials are now calling on individuals, corporates and development partners to increase support to expand access to **early diagnosis and treatment for children with cancer in Kenya.
