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{
    "id": 807209,
    "url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/807209/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 170,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Homa Bay CWR, ODM",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. (Ms.) Gladys Nyasuna",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 590,
        "legal_name": "Gladys Atieno Nyasuna",
        "slug": "gladys-atieno-nyasuna"
    },
    "content": " Thank you very much, Hon. Speaker. I rise to join the rest of the Members of this House in passing our messages of condolence to the family and friends of Sen. Ben Oluoch Okello, and the people of Migori County who have lost a very passionate senator, who, unfortunately, did not get to show his passion in his work. I met Ben during his days at Ramogi FM at Royal Media Services. He ran a very popular breakfast show. Actually, for us who were joining politics in those days, Ben’s show was a place to go and debate and showcase yourself. He gave us the opportunity to market ourselves to our people. It is very unfortunate to lose him. Cancer has been talked about a lot. We have come to a place where action must be taken. As somebody who has survived cancer, I can say that this country, at present, has no mechanism to effectively diagnose and treat cancer. As Members of Parliament, perhaps, we are privileged in the sense that we can afford treatment outside the country, but for our people, the Wanjikus out there, a diagnosis of cancer probably means death immediately. First of all, when I was diagnosed with cancer, Sen. Beth Mugo told me that what will kill me maybe is not even the cancer; it is the stress of just imagining the disease. But imagine the stress of having the disease plus the fact that you are not in an economic position to afford treatment. As Hon. Wandayi has mentioned, in the last Parliament, I did introduce successfully a Motion that spoke about training of oncologists. The cost was worked out by the Parliamentary Budget Office at just about Ksh146 million a year. We would be able to train 47 oncologists on scholarship by government from all the 47 counties and then ensure that we place them back in the county hospitals. The Committee on Implementation should follow up on this matter of training oncologists because people wait for one oncologist. Everybody is waiting. The country has not more than 30 oncologists. Then there are oncology nurses, radiologists and these others. If you compare the quality of care outside this country and the quality of care here, if you have gone through that process like I have, it is worlds apart. What a nurse can do out there, nurses here cannot do. Even a simple procedure of finding a vein, they will prick you like 10 times before they can find it. It is a very serious matter. I do not see Hon. ole Kenta here but I see my brother Hon. Abuor who is in the Committee on Implementation. They should follow up the status of that Motion so that we can put some money in the Budget and train oncologists, in addition to all other suggestions that have been made by Members. With those many remarks, Hon. Speaker, may Ben’s soul rest in eternal peace."
}