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{
    "id": 926971,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/926971/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 217,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. (Dr.) Musuruve",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13188,
        "legal_name": "Getrude Musuruve Inimah",
        "slug": "getrude-musuruve-inimah"
    },
    "content": "We talk strongly about cancer when leaders are affected. I think we need to speak to this issue every time so that we ensure common mwananchi is aware of it. As I speak right now, the entire nation is looking at the Senate to see what legislative measures we are coming up with to ensure that the common man is getting services. There is need for the common mwananchi to access, afford and be treated of cancer. There is also need for county governments to take up this responsibility. This Bill proposes establishment of cancer centres in all 47 counties. I support it because if we have these centres, it means that the county governments will ensure they factor in the issue of cancer prevention, diagnosis and treatment. Cancer should be one of the development plans for the counties. Every county should have a plan on how to prevent cancer. They should have palliative care and psychological treatment for those who are suffering from it. Many Kenyans are ignorant when it comes to cancer. These centres will educate people about it. Some types of cancer are genetic and we also have the risk factors of cancer. Therefore, there is need for research at county level and that will help the counties know how to deal with this issue. This Bill has addressed the research issue. There is need for us to ensure that these services reach the common man. Vision 2030 talks of the wellbeing for all Kenyans. However, we cannot achieve it if we are unable to curb the cancer menace. Treatment should reach the common man. National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) should cover cancer patients. Many families are affected by cancer. These are issues that we have to address as a Senate. We cannot be a productive nation if we do not address the wellbeing of the people. Many doctors have taken cancer to be a moneybag. That is why cancer treatment is extremely expensive in this country. There are centres that claim to deal with cancer, but they do not encourage research. We must invest in our oncologists by training them. Many people go out of the country to look for specialised treatment. I believe it is possible for us to have affordable cancer treatment in Kenya. All we need to do it to train our own oncologists. Many Kenyans are bleeding because of cancer. I fear calling some of the cancer patients because they are always asking for money for treatment or drugs. I am not the Government. We must make legislations that will enable them to access affordable treatment. Cancer drugs are very expensive and the common man cannot afford them. In fact, the common man wallows in pain and waits for God to tell them, “come home.” We must address this issue. We cannot rest on our laurels when Kenyans are dying. The national policy on cancer should go down to the county government. The county executive should come here to tell us what they are doing. This Bill talks of the need for a register in all counties. This centre is supposed to have a register of people who have been diagnosed with cancer. It should also indicate what the county government have done to curb the disease. The money that goes to the counties should be used to prevent cancer. The county executives should bring a report to the Senate to show us what they are doing in the counties. We have to know how they are curbing the disease. We should not keep quiet about it, but we address it. Kenyans are depending on the policies that we will make in The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate."
}