Our Story
Background:
The number of cancer cases and cancer-related mortality in sub-Saharan Africa has been rising significantly and is expected to almost double between 2020 and 2040. Kenya has one of the highest cancer burdens in sub-Saharan Africa with a projected escalating trend straining the fragile health systems.
In our target catchment region breast cancer, prostate cancer, stomach cancer and cervical cancer are the top cases reported. They represent about 80% of the cancer strands reported in the region covering Meru, Laikipia, Isiolo, Tharaka Nithi and Marsabit counties. Most of the patients’ health seeking practices, preference is given St. Theresa Mission Hospital-Kiirua compared to government or private hospitals resulting to the our facility shouldering the largest burden.
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And STMH-HACI was born out of this very need, with the aim of establishing a dedicated fund and getting partnerships, which will provide resources assistance for essential cancer treatments and other form of support to the underprivileged cancer patients within the hospital catchment area and beyond. The support includes but not limited to follow ups for those on treatment, sensitization for early diagnosis, screening and psychosocial support especially for the far to reach and underserved vulnerable communities. STMH-HACI chooses to stand on the gap for the good of our patients while working on changing the narrative through rigorous screening, community sensitization and continuous health education for early diagnosis and timely intervention. Many of the patients we’ve lost have been not only due to the limited access to essential services but also because they lost hope in the absence of inadequate support in the society.
The patients followed at St. Theresa Mission Hospital-Kiirua oncology clinic fall three categories namely cash payers, the SHA/insurance covered and charitable (those who find themselves needing treatment but lack the financial capacity to pay for treatment). Irrespective to which category a client falls, cancer patients face numerous financial challenges as time goes due to services that they need but are either not covered for by their insurer especially those with micro covers or have exhausted their benefits.
Cancer can be debilitating and a burden to the patients, actually Some lack the capacity to travel to the hospital for treatment and sadly we have lost patients including a 14 year old from the Northern Kenya who defaulted chemotherapy session due to challenges with travelling cost. The major contributor to clinic defaulters is lack of adequate resources to facilitate the patient and care giver vs household priorities.
In addressing the cancer burden among vulnerable households in the region, St Theresa Mission
Hospital- Kiirua aims at resource mobilizing through this concept to holistically implement an integrated
approach that will strengthen preventive and curative courses related to breast cancer, prostate cancer,
stomach cancer and cervical cancer.
The initiative was launched on 19th October 2024 marked with a 14km Charity walk, free cancer screening and a Football Match at Kinoru Stadium Meru.
And on this particular day our Friends and Partners showed up in great numbers to support the initiative. The goal was to raise Kes. 25,000,000, we may not have achieved that ambitious target but it was a good start.
With the little/much we raised we’ve been able to start acting on our objectives and plan for the next Charity Walk which will be on 18th October 2025.