Bishop decries the rise in cancer cases as veteran journalist is laid to rest.

Members of the press from Thika laying wreath during the burial of their colleague Lucy Njeri Wangai who died of acute blood Leukemia. 

Bishop James Gachiengo of Prime International Ministry has encouraged Kenyans to go for early cancer screening saying that early detection helps in treatment and management of the disease.

While speaking during the burial of a Thika-based journalist Lucy Njeri Wangai in Mutunguru village Gatundu South Sub-County, Gachiengo said that there was need for more sensitisation to arrest the escalating cancer-related deaths.

“More and more Kenyans are going for early (cancer) testing, screening and diagnosis but we must also admit the fact that there is need to address a number of challenges that are jeopardising the fight against cancer. Early testing increases one’s chances of successful treatment thus the need to enhance this programme,” he said.

He encouraged people to enroll with the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) as this will help in catering for hefty hospital bills involved in all forms of cancer treatment.

The bishop lamented that the high cost of cancer screening and was one of the main reasons that hindered people from seeking the services, notwithstanding the unavailability of well-equipped health facilities that could carry out these tests especially in rural areas. 

The 52-year-old media icon who was the lower Kiambu regional information officer at the government-owned Kenya News Agency (KNA) died of acute blood Leukemia after being admitted in hospital for two weeks.

Cancer accounts for 7% of annual deaths in Kenya and is now a common illness. Some forms of cancer are hereditary and relatives of people with a history of cancer are advised to go for early screening.

Njeri was eulogised as a veteran writer who went ahead out of her noble duties to help many cancer patients especially those whose relatives bodies had been detained in hospitals due to outstanding bills.