The Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) has today (June 14, 2022) received a donation of pre-cancerous lesions treatment devices to enhance teaching and learning in the College.
Handing over the equipment, donated by Ministry of Health in Partnership with Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) and Jhpiego, Ministry of Health Acting Director General Dr. Patrick Amoth further reported that through the partnership with CHAI, a total of 125 KMTC lecturers drawn from nine clusters from all over the country were trained on screening and treatment of pre-cancerous lesions.
Dr. Amoth noted that this is of particular importance as “The Ministry of Health is implementing the National Cancer Control Strategy 2017-2022 which advocates for specific interventions across the cancer continuum of care to halt and reverse the burden of cancer,” he said.
He observed that lack of skills among primary healthcare workers is one of the major gaps in cervical cancer prevention & control country wide. In this regard therefore, Dr. Amoth encouraged the lecturers to disseminate the training content to their fellow lecturers and their students. He added that the training should be integrated in the nursing training curriculum to ensure sustainability.
“The Ministry of Health is confident that through this training many health workers will improve their knowledge, skills and confidence for cancer prevention and control upstream even before they join the service,” he further added.
On his part, KMTC CEO Dr. Kelly Oluoch reported that he is aware of the devastation cervical cancer has caused on the country’s population. “This is not only sad but also tragic given that it is an entirely preventable condition.”
“Towards this end, as our contribution towards the fight against cervical cancer and cancer in general, the College has initiated a Higher Diploma programme in Oncology, anchored in the Department of Clinical Medicine,” he reported, adding that “to date, I am glad to report that we released our first 16 graduates in December 2021 and we currently have 33 students in training.”
The CEO further confirmed that the College is working towards adjusting content in the curricula of all programs relevant to the prevention and management of cervical cancer to be in line with the current National guidelines.
Laying emphasis on the need for vaccination against Cervical Cancer, Country Director CHAI Mr. Gerald Macharia said that elimination of the disease is possible and encouraged early screening in addition to the HPV vaccination for young girls especially those aged 10 and below.
Representing Jhpiego Country Director Dr. Stephen Mulwa, Project Director Mr. Paul Nyachae recognized the partnership between the four organizations as proof that cancer is a journey and only through walking together can there be hope of eliminating the disease. “The presence of Dr. Amoth here today is further proof of the Government’s commitment to dealing with the Cancer menace in the country,” Mr. Nyachae said.
He added that “No woman should die from cervical cancer, a preventable illness.”
On the other hand, head, National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP) Dr. Mary Nyangasi highlighted reduction of cervical cancer incidence, morbidity and mortality rates in Kenya through the capacity building of primary healthcare workers on cervical cancer screening & treatment of pre-cancer lesions, as the overall objective of the partnership with KMTC.
Specifically, this will be achieved through building the capacity of KMTC lecturers as trainers in cervical cancer screening & treatment of pre-cancer lesions (including skills based training); providing KMTC skills labs with relevant treatment devices integrating breast cancer screening training, and integrating and updating cancer screening content in the KMTC pre and in-service training curricula for relevant programs, Dr. Nyangasi added.
