Nairobi, Wednesday, 30 September 2020 … In these pandemic times, one can easily forget that traditionally, October is marked for Breast Cancer Awareness, the disease that most commonly affects women worldwide.
Early detection of breast cancer is the cornerstone to control it, and if done so early, there is a good chance to cure it, with adequate diagnosis and treatment. If detected late, however, curative treatment is often no longer an option. In such cases, treatment may improve quality of life and delay disease progression, while supportive and palliative care should be readily available to relieve suffering for patients and their families.
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There are about 1.7 million new cases and 522 000 deaths from breast cancer each year [Globocan 2012 http://gco.iarc.fr/today/home ]. The majority of women who die from breast cancer (324 000) live in low- and middle-income countries, where most women are diagnosed in late stages due to a variety of factors. These include limited awareness on the part of the public and health care providers, and the lack of access to timely, affordable and effective diagnosis and treatment.
Breast cancer is the most common cause of cancer among women in most countries. In low- and middle-income countries the incidence has been rising steadily due to increased life expectancy, changing reproductive patterns (such as later age at first childbirth and less breast-feeding), and the adoption of western lifestyles.
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Langata Hospital has been hosting Breast Cancer Awareness month since 2016, and will this year add free BMI Checks, nutritional advice, Free HIV testing and counselling as well as any referral service for further management, if found necessary.
Additional testing for Pap smear, PSA levels for men and blood sugar levels will be conducted at subsidized charges. Open daily at the hospital’s clinic from Thursday, 1 October 2020 from 9am- 5pm Monday to Friday and 8am – 1pm Saturday.
Announcing the 2020 Breast Cancer Awareness month, Dr. A. S. Matharu, Director said “It is and will remain, our mission to provide the very best medical services, at an affordable cost to the residents of Langata and its environs. The free medical camps we conduct at the hospital is service to the community around us”, he concluded.
Since August, Langata Hospital has hosted a World Breastfeeding Week (WBW) camp distributing supplements at the Mothers and Child Wellness Clinic as well as a Diabetic Medical Camp which offered free diabetic screening, blood pressure, and BMI and Eye checkup. Free cataract surgery was also included.
World Health Organisation (WHO) promotes comprehensive breast cancer control programmes as part of national cancer control plans. In November, WHO will release a new document to help countries improve capacity for early diagnosis for breast and other cancers.
Langata Hospital was established as a medical centre in June 2005, providing outpatient medical care only. Through our efforts in providing quality and affordable medical services, we managed to grow quickly and eventually obtained the license to provide 24-hour out-patient and in-patient medical services. As an NHIF accredited facility, we have strived to upgrade the quality of services that we offer over the years, always seeking for our patients, attainment of the highest standards of medical care.
Booking for the Free breast cancer and wellness clinics is recommended via email [email protected] or telephone +254724485376 or +254739533786.
