The three-day conference brings together First Ladies from Africa, political decision-makers and experts in the fields of cancer prevention, treatment, research and other vital elements/PSCU
WINDHOEK, July 20 – First Lady Margaret Kenyatta is in Windhoek, Namibia for the 8th Stop Cervical, Breast and Prostate Cancer in Africa Conference (SCCA).
The First Lady and her delegation touched down at Hosea Kutako International Airport, Windhoek on Saturday and was received by senior Namibian Government officials and Kenyans in Windhoek led by the country’s High Commissioner to Namibia, Peter Gitau.
The three-day conference that kicks off Sunday, brings together First Ladies from Africa, political decision-makers and experts in the fields of cancer prevention, treatment, research and other vital elements.
Cancer is one of the major non-communicable diseases (NCDs) whose effective prevention and control calls for a multi-sectorial and multi-disciplinary action.
The SCCA Conference was born out of the need for increased awareness and education about cancer on the continent and has become a recognized platform for empowering a regionally connected community response in the fight against breast and cervical cancers in Africa.
The conference theme “Moving forward to end Cervical Cancer by 2030: Universal Access to Cervical Cancer Prevention”, resonates well with the First Lady’s pet project ‘Beyond Zero’ campaign that aims at reducing to the very minimum, maternal and child mortality in Kenya.
It is being hosted by the First Lady of Namibia Penehupifo Pohamba and aims at adopting strategic actions to combat spread of the non-communicable disease.
The disease kills over 7.9 million people globally every year constituting close to 13 percent of total deaths worldwide.
According to the Kenya National Cancer Control Strategy 2011-2016, cancer is ranked as the third killer disease after infectious and cardiovascular diseases and is responsible for 7 percent of the total annual national mortality in the country.
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