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{
    "id": 1323931,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1323931/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 259,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Teso South, UDA",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Mary Emaase",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": " Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker, for the opportunity to contribute to this Bill. This is a very important Bill and it is timely. I also want to commend Hon. Rahim for bringing it up. Cancer is the third largest killer, after infectious and cardiovascular diseases. It is the third largest killer in Kenya and the second in the world. Today, we are losing many people to cancer. When you speak to people, even to colleagues here as I have heard most allude to, you realise that each one of us has lost someone to cancer. It could be a close member of the family. I lost my mother to leukaemia and my father to prostate cancer. It is very important that patients diagnosed with cancer have access to early diagnosis and treatment. They should also have access to information, awareness, and sensitisation. Delayed access to treatment, immediately after diagnosis, is what increases risks and leads to increased mortality rates. The mortality rate is at 40,000 deaths per year. The situation is worsened by delayed access to healthcare. The Bill proposes to introduce e-health whereby we can leverage technology for patients to access treatment and medical attention. We are aware that we have very few oncologists in the country. Most of our people diagnosed with cancer in villages and rural areas are given referrals. In Busia County where I came from, most cancer patients are referred to either the MTRH, Eldoret, or the KNH. It means that the patient has to be transported to the hospital he or she has been referred to. In some cases, they cannot even sit in an ordinary public transport vehicle. The family members have to look for private means of transport and accompany the patient. Diagnosis also takes more time because oncologists are few in Kenya. They have to be booked. In the process, they have to look for accommodation and upkeep which makes the process very expensive. With e-health technology, patients will have the best experience because they will interact and speak with doctors wherever they are, whichever geographical location. Patients will get timely help, which is very important. With the introduction of telemedicine, whereby one is diagnosed in hospital A and referred to hospital B, hospital B will access medical history, data, and the tests done in hospital A. It will make treatment easier and faster. Lives will be saved because of timely attention, screening, and treatment. Hon. Temporary Speaker, this calls for coordination between the Ministry of Health (MoH) and the National Cancer Institute of Kenya to collaborate in training more people. Even the doctors in the oncology sector will get further training so that we can have enough doctors to address cancer treatment in a timely manner. Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker."
}