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{
"id": 962566,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/962566/?format=api",
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"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Tharaka, DP",
"speaker_title": "Hon. George Gitonga",
"speaker": {
"id": 13491,
"legal_name": "George Gitonga Murugara",
"slug": "george-gitonga-murugara"
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"content": "Let me thank the Mover of this Motion, Hon. (Dr.) Tecla Tum. It is the appropriate time to keep on discussing about cancer, which is an epidemic in this country. It threatens to kill most of us purely because we are either ignorant; we have not been informed or there are no sufficient facilities to ensure that we learn of our status in time. Recently, we debated at length on the establishment of cancer screening and treatment centres in the constituencies. We passed that Motion. It is a Motion that awaits implementation by the Ministry of Health, through the Committee on Implementation. We debated and agreed that, in every constituency, it is now appropriate for the national Government, through the Ministry of Health, to establish a cancer screening and treatment centre. I still believe and reiterate that this is the position of this House. We must, at all times, urge our Government to ensure that centres are set up, and our people are given appropriate treatment. It is also very important, especially where there can be vaccines, to have all the children that are likely to be affected by cervical cancer, especially girls, vaccinated. Let us, through the Ministry of Health, roll out a vaccination programme that will go to the grassroots and have children vaccinated. In so doing, we would definitely arrest and ameliorate this problem, which is devastating our country. I can confirm that I would be prepared to take part in the smallest of ways to ensure that such a programme goes to my constituency of Tharaka, and that I am able to receive those vaccines in their truckloads so that I have every child vaccinated. I will also be prepared to ensure that the public is informed as regards what the Government is doing and, more so, on the importance of doing it so that it can be embraced without hesitation. We have heard of cases where vaccination exercises are rolled out by the Government and propaganda sets in immediately with all manner of negative publicity, innuendos and what else we cannot understand. One aspect that must be explained to our citizens is that cancer is an epidemic. It now needs to be arrested. We have watched. As I speak, I have many of my constituents lying in various hospitals ailing from cancer related ailments. It is not just cervical cancer which affects women. We have other types of cancer which have been stated in this House and have been explained to the country. People are aware of what is ailing us. The solution is not anything else but early cancer screening of every Kenyan. Let us have treatment whenever it is possible. Our country is doing very well. As Hon. Members have said, we do not have to go to India or any of the hospitals out of Kenya. We have oncologists here who are trained properly and are qualified to give medical treatment. Therefore, it is my humble submission that we support this Motion. Let us have cancer taken as one of the diseases that are negatively affecting our country. It is reducing our population in spite of whatever age one is; whether it is productive or old age. It is now creeping slowly into children and it needs to be arrested. So, in support of this Motion, I urge the Government, through the Ministry of Health and this House, to pass and adopt this Motion, so that cancer patients, wherever they are, in hospitals or at home, are able to access proper medical attention in regard to cancer, whether cervical or another type. I, therefore, beg to support this important Motion. Thank you."
}