Cancer kills 18,000 people annually in Kenya. It is the third main cause of death in Kenya after infections and cardiovascular diseases. The rising cases of cancer in the country are lung, liver, colon, prostrate and throat cancer amongst men. Cervical, breast and stomach cancers are more prevalent amongst women. 

Diagnosis is often done too late and with estimates in Kenya showing that 80% of the cancer cases are too advanced for effective treatment by the time they are diagnosed.  Some of the treatment options include radiotherapy and chemotherapy. This often leaves the patient weaker during therapy, affecting appetite, as well as their emotional and physical well being.   

Most mainstream (major) donors refrain from funding ‘on-going costs’ such as medical fees. This situation leads to reliance on local donations and other benefactors to reach out to persons unable to fund their medical costs. Public hospitals in Kenya discharge patients with long-term chronic conditions including cancer for home based care by relatives. Majority of the family care givers are ill prepared and equipped to provide optimum care and support. Even though the government has made tremendous investment in health care in Kenya, there is still a long away to fully meet the medical needs of the patients, particularly those with cancer. For instance, Nakuru level six-oncology department, despite being a government facility, refers high proportion of cancer patients to us for financial aid to enable access to cancer treatment. 

v  LHC offers Palliative care Services to the terminally and chronically ill persons- Physiotherapy and occupational therapy every Thursday and Friday at the centre

v  Support access to treatment through cost sharing-82 clients/patients accessed medical care and support: 133 sessions of chemotherapy (5-18 chemotherapy sessions per individual with costs ranging from KES 3,400 and KES 79,000 per session). 100 sessions of radiotherapy (25-35 radiotherapy sessions per individual with cost per session KES 3,600). Prescription medicines for 50 persons. 4 surgeries Over 95% of patients supported were suffering from Cancer. Leading cancers were Breasts, cervical and prostate.

v  Capacity building of care givers and community volunteers on critical home based care skills-Conduct Home Based Care services for 82 Chronically and/or terminally ill persons accompanied by Community Health Volunteers (CHVs) seconded to the program by the Ministry of Health.

v  Psycho-social support service - Group therapies and individual counselling to 82 clients and their caregivers