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Cancer The Silent Killer: Northeastern Kenya

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I’m a health care worker in Garissa County Referral Hospital for the last half a decade which is in Northeastern Kenya. The death of cancer patients including my loved ones is overwhelming.

I want to dig a little bit deeper into why this silent killer is on our neck in Northern Kenya. Let’s start from the basics.

Cancer is a disease in which some of the body’s cells grow uncontrollably and spread to other parts of the body. Cancer can start almost anywhere in the human body, which is made up of trillions of cells.

Signs and symptoms.

  • Fatigue or extreme tiredness that doesn’t get better with rest.
  • Weight loss or gain of 10 pounds or more for no known reason.
  • Eating problems; not feeling hungry, trouble swallowing, belly pain, or nausea and vomiting
  • Swelling or lumps anywhere in the body.
  • Thickening or lump in the breast or other part of the body.
  • Pain, new or with no known reason, that doesn’t go away or gets worse
  • Skin changes; a lump that bleeds or turns scaly, a new mole or a change in a mole, a sore that does not heal, or a yellowish jaundice).
  • Cough or hoarseness that does not go away.
  • Unusual bleeding or bruising for no known reason.
  • Change in bowel habits; constipation or diarrhea, that doesn’t go away or a change in how your stools look.
  • Bladder changes when passing urine, blood in the urine or needing to pass urine.
  • Fever or nights sweats.
  • Headaches.
  • Vision or hearing problems.
  • Mouth changes example sores, bleeding, pain, or numbness.

General Risk Factors For Cancer Include:

  • Older age.
  • A personal or family history of cancer.
  • Using tobacco.
  • Obesity.
  • Alcohol.
  • Some types of viral infections example, human papillomavirus (HPV)
  • Specific chemicals.

A Brief History of the North-Eastern.

The Northeastern province is one of the eight provinces in Kenya. The population is estimated to be 2,385,572 and it is unevenly distributed in the area, which is 126,906 km2. 

The area is mostly inhabited by the pastoralist community of ethnic Somali origin. The only general hospital for the province is located in Garissa town, the catchment area. Reports indicated that cancer is the third killer cause of death in Kenya.

There is no data on the incidence, prevalence, and mortality of cancer in the Northeastern province. There is a need for analysis and publishing of hospital-registered data.

The Burden of Cancer Globally.

Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide, accounting for nearly 10 million deaths in 2020 (1). The most common in 2020 (in terms of new cases of cancer) were:

  • Breast (2.26 million cases);
  • Lung (2.21 million cases);
  • Colon and rectum (1.93 million cases);
  • Prostate (1.41 million cases);
  • Skin (non-melanoma) (1.20 million cases); and
  • Stomach (1.09 million cases).

The most common causes of cancer death in 2020 were:

  • Lung (1.80 million deaths);
  • Colon and rectum (935 000 deaths);
  • Liver (830 000 deaths);
  • Stomach (769 000 deaths); and
  • Breast (685 000 deaths).

The Burden of Cancer Nationally.

numbers at a glance from Globpcan 2020.
The number of new cases in 2020, female, all ages.
The number of new cases in 2020, males, all ages.
The number of new cases in 2020, both sexes, all ages.

The Burden of Cancer in Northeastern.

The total number of newly diagnosed cancer patients was 217. The number has increased every year, from 35 in 2008, 40 in 2009, 39 in 2010, 45 in 2011, to 58 in 2012, and the number keeps on increasing up to date. 

Female patients totaled 49.6% and 50.4% of patients were male. The youngest patient was 18 years of age, the oldest was 97, and the average age was 53.4 years. 

The most affected age groups were 20–44 years (31%) and 45–64 years (30%). Esophageal carcinoma was the leading type of cancer (33%) followed by hepatocellular carcinoma (9%). 

Statistics at Garissa County Referral Hospital show oesophageal carcinoma as the leading type of cancer (33%), followed by hepatocellular carcinoma (9%).

The region’s most affected age groups with oesophageal cancer are 45–64 years (36%) and > 65 years (34%). 

The 10 Most Common Types of Cancer.

  • Esophageal. 
  • Non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
  • Liver.
  • Breast.
  • Skin.
  • Thyroid. 
  • Brain. 
  • Bone. 
  • Colorectal.
  • Soft tissue.

‘Ndrangheta Italian Mafia

A criminal organization from Calabria, Italy. Who are the culprits who have dumped radioactive waste since the 1980s.

Ships with toxic and radioactive waste were sunk off the Italian coast. In addition, vessels were allegedly sent to Somalia, Kenya, and Zaire with toxic waste, including radioactive waste cargoes, which were either sunk with the ship or buried on land.

Where is Radioactive waste from.

According to Fonti, a manager of ENEA( Agenzia nazionale per le nuove tecnologie, l’energia e lo sviluppo economico sostenibile), paid the clan to get rid of 600 drums of toxic and radioactive waste from Italy, Switzerland, France, Germany, and the US, with Somalia as the destination.

Why Now ?

It all has to do with foreign companies dumping cancer-causing waste in the region in the name of, in most cases,’ oil exploration.’

In 2010, Greenpeace’s environmental organization revealed that nearly 10 million tonnes of radioactive toxic waste from Europe were shipped to Africa between 1988 and 1994 and identified the Somalia coast as one of the key destinations.

Elderly folks in the villages openly tell of oil exploration companies wheeling in large trucks with containers at night under heavy guard and burying them in the ground.

There are verified records at UNEP, of large containers of hazardous waste – lead and mercury, being washed ashore in Somalia beaches in the 2004 Tsunami. The results? Generational deaths, miscarriages, and misery for the locals.

Oesophageal cancer is the most common type in Northeastern. Patients being forced to seek treatment in Nairobi while those with means have had to travel outside the country, mostly to India. it’s known as “duun gooye” meaning the one that cuts the throats.

Cancer Treatment Cencer in Kenya.

  • HCGCCK Cancer Centre – located in Mp Shah Hospital. From Monday to Friday its open from 8am to 5pm, Saturday from 9am to 1pm and closed on Sundays.
  • Texas cancer Center Kenya -Mbagathi Way, Madaraka Opposite APs Camp. Opends daily from 8am to 6pm except Sunday which is closed.
  • Kenya Network Of Cancer Association – Located in KMA center. Clossed on Sundays and opened all the remaining days from 8am to 5pm.
  • Cancer Center Treament – Located in kenyatta National Hospital. Opened throughout.
  • Kilimani Cancer Center – Located Fortis Suits, Hospital road. No time was available.

They are more than dozen and I couldn’t write them all, they are among the best.

A modern Theater.

These 10 Alternative Cancer Treatments.

Quran therapy. During Quran therapy sessions, you might listen to Quran, from different reciters and most of the time on the patient.

Acupuncture. During an acupuncture treatment, a practitioner inserts tiny needles into your skin at precise points.

Aromatherapy. Aromatherapy uses fragrant oils to provide a calming sensation.

Diet. Avoidance of sugar and sugar products, wheat and its products, and vegetable oil.

Hypnosis. Hypnosis is a deep state of concentration. 

Massage. During a massage, your practitioner kneads your skin, muscles, and tendons to relieve muscle tension, as a result, this promotes stress relaxes the patient.

Meditation. Meditation is a state of deep concentration when you focus your mind on one image, sound, or idea, such as a positive thought.

Relaxation techniques. Relaxation techniques are ways of focusing your attention on calming your mind and relaxing your muscles.

Tai chi. Tai chi is a form of exercise that incorporates gentle movements and deep breathing.

Yoga. Yoga combines stretching exercises with deep breathing.

You may find some alternative treatments work well together. Quran is the king of all.

Conclution.

I adjourn my article on prophet Muhammad saying on ailments and their medicine.

The Prophet said, “There is no disease that Allah has created, except that He also has created its treatment.” Volume 7, Book 71, Number 583:

Narrated Abu Huraira:

I heard Allah’s Apostle saying, “There is healing in black cumin for all diseases except death.” Volume 7, Book 71, Number 592:

Narrated Ibn ‘Abbas:

The Prophet said, “Healing is in three things: cupping, a gulp of honey or cauterization, (branding with fire) but I forbid my followers to use cauterization (branding with fire).”

Teaching of the Holy prophet:

  • Cancer has treatment.
  • Black cumin is a powerful medicine weather oil powder or in seed form.
  • Honey is an important medicine.
  • Avoid cauterization is not recommended.
  • In cupping their is healing.

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