Nyeri residents are set to benefit from free esophageal cancer screening for the next 30 days, following a partnership between the County Department of Health and Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral and Research Hospital (KUTRRH). The mobile endoscopy tower truck, flagged off by Governor Dr. Mutahi Kahiga and KUTRRH acting CEO Dr. Zeinab Gura, is equipped with an endoscopy machine and staffed with cancer specialists who will conduct diagnostic procedures across the county. The initiative aims to enhance early detection and improve treatment outcomes for residents at high risk of esophageal cancer.
Esophageal cancer has been identified as a leading cause of cancer-related deaths in Nyeri, particularly among men. Studies conducted in 2022 by the Ministry of Health and the County Health Department revealed that Nyeri, along with Murang’a, Kirinyaga, and Embu counties, carries the highest cancer burden in the country. Each month, the County Referral Hospital records at least 55 new cancer cases, while the chemotherapy center handles around 600 patients. The mobile clinic will travel to Othaya, Mukurwe-ini, Karatina, Naru Moru, and Mweiga, stationing at Level III and IV facilities to save residents the burden of traveling long distances for screening.
Local leaders and health officials have lauded the initiative as a milestone in the fight against cancer. Governor Kahiga emphasized that early detection is key to reducing mortality rates, particularly among men who are often reluctant to seek medical care. Residents expressed hope that the program would provide timely interventions and reduce the progression of advanced cancer cases. Health experts also noted that the study accompanying the screening will help update county data on cancer prevalence, informing future strategies and improving access to treatment services for Nyeri’s population.