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{
    "id": 621306,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/621306/?format=api",
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    "content": "significant. In fact, we have a certain level of control of HIV/AIDS because of the way all countries responded to it. Cancer is one of those diseases that need that kind of response, if you are expected to control it. Diagnosis is one of the very important things about cancers. One of the unfortunate things about cancer is that at the initial stages, it might not cause any pain and then reporting it will be a very slow process. In fact, this is one of the major reasons why it is a killer disease; that we are unable to detect it in the early stages. So, diagnosis is very important and this Bill proposes that we set in place bodies or institutions in form of these committees to report some of these cases at the outset. I think it is very important that we are able to detect some of these things early enough. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, one of the very crucial things about managing cancer cases is the timing at which the diagnosis is done. If the diagnosis of any of these cancers is done late, the outcome of managing that condition is really different from if it is discovered early. So, delayed diagnosis is very significant in the survival of these individuals or persons who get affected by cancer. So, it is very important that we have committees or bodies that can sensitize the communities to look out for some of the first signs of cancer. That is an important thing that this Bill comes up with. That is one of the reasons I support it. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, the other thing is that cancer at later stages is painful not only to the cancer patient but also to close family members. Therefore, it is important that we have advanced organized groups of counselling. We should have counselling centres with counselling and pain management experts. These places will be rescue centres for some patients who will spend their last days on earth with excruciating pain. This can be managed only if we can counsel the individuals and psychologically prepare them for the consequences of these cases. I am aware and appreciate that this Bill presupposes and suggests formation of counseling centres where these individuals can get some counselling to alleviate their suffering. We also know that the number and the time at which cancer appears in individuals is moving from the elderly. Cancer used to be a problem for the elderly but now, we are finding it in paediatrics in Kenya. This is where we lose individuals who could be very useful to society for a long time. Paediatric cancer is one of those things that we will look at very quickly because these are individuals who cannot tell us what the problem is. We need to have high acumen in diagnosing these cases and discover them early in children and manage them. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I support this Bill because it will add a few days to many patients who experience this hard situation. I hope that this Senate will continue to support and suggest the best ways in which we can manage this horrendous thing called cancer."
}