Free cervical cancer treatment for women in Migori County

Being diagnosed with cancer is devastating. It is especially worse for people in rural areas since most of them cannot afford treatment. It is therefore a joy when such people receive medical aid that caters for their treatment.

This kind of joy befell 38 women in Kuria East, Migori County after receiving National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) cards that will help them receive free treatment for cervical cancer. The NHIF cards are part of an initiative by Step by Step Cervical cancer campaign which is sponsored by Smile Woman, a community based organization in partnership with Nation Media Group. The initiative targets over 7000 women in Migori County and the next phase will be in Nyatike sub-county.

The medical insurance cover which cost 76.4 million shillings, will run for three years and will cater for chemotherapy, radiotherapy and medication for the beneficiaries.

Speaking at a function held at Masaba Health Centre, the Smile Woman Executive Director, Thomas Chacha urged the women to go for regular cervical cancer screening and seek immediate medical help whenever they experience any symptoms. Even though the money raised in the walk was meant to aid in screening programme, the organization decided to use it to offer free medical help for the women suffering from cervical cancer in the area.

“This money was raised from our cervical cancer awareness walk held in 2016. We walked from Migori to Mombasa,” said Mr. Chacha.