{"id":807196,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/807196/?format=json","text_counter":157,"type":"other","speaker_name":"","speaker_title":"","speaker":null,"content":"As my colleagues have said, when it comes to issues of cancer, it is high time it is declared a national disaster. I have just seen the 411 on the Cuban doctors. The court has dismissed the petition and the Government can now go ahead and hire these medics. We are told that a majority of them are oncologists who are the experts on matters cancer. I think this should be taken with speed to the respective counties. We are told the machines are there but we have not had the experts to operate them. I am sure that these oncologists will play a critical role in terms of screening of cancer so that we can have early diagnosis. We know that there is a positive correlation when it comes to cancer diagnosis. If we do it at an early stage, then the probability of survival will be high. Unfortunately, in Kenya, a lot of screening diagnosis is being done at the late stages, so the probability of survival becomes minimal. I want to request our legislators, when you go to India… last time we had an opportunity to go for a parliamentary visit as Members of Parliament. In one of the hospitals we went to, we realised that diagnostics is very cheap and they have top of the range equipment. In case of an issue you can mitigate it at an early stage. I know that there is something that was provided for in the Budget but we must move with speed and declare this a national disaster. We do not want to continue losing our legislators and Kenyans. May his soul rest in eternal peace."}