The National Cancer Institute of Kenya (NCI-K) is spearheading a transformative initiative to revolutionize the nation’s cancer data landscape, a core mandate of the Institute as the custodian of the National Cancer Registry. Recognizing that robust cancer registration is fundamental to effective cancer prevention and control by providing crucial data on incidence, prevalence, treatment outcomes, and survival, NCI-K is taking a significant step towards generating comprehensive and localized data. Under the visionary leadership of its CEO, Dr. Elias Melly, and guided by Gladys Chesumbai, the Head of the Cancer Registry, the institute has deployed a dedicated cohort of Globally Certified Cancer Registration Officers to the frontlines of regional cancer centers across the nation.
These experienced officers have undergone rigorous training, certified internationally through the IARC-GICR Cancer Registration Training, and further enhanced locally through intensive practical sessions meticulously led by Ms. Chesumbai. This comprehensive program has equipped them with specialized skills and a deep understanding essential for the sensitive and critical task of cancer registration.
The strategically positioned officers will span the breadth of the Kenya region, painting a comprehensive picture of cancer prevalence and trends nationwide across the following key Regional Cancer Centres: Kakamega, Machakos, Garissa, MTRH, Nakuru, Nyeri, KUTRRH, Coast, JOOTRH, KNH, and Meru.
Speaking during the deployment, the NCI-K CEO emphasized the profound significance of this data collection endeavor. “This data will be invaluable to us,” the CEO stated, “For too long, we have relied on cancer estimates to inform our treatment approaches for our local population. This localized data, meticulously gathered by our Globally Certified Cancer Registration Officers, and refined through Ms. Chesumbai’s practical expertise and leadership, will empower us to develop the most effective treatment strategies, guide our research efforts with a deeper understanding of cancer as it manifests within Kenya, allowing us to tailor treatments to the most prevalent local cancer types and investigate specific regional risk factors. Accurate cancer registration is the bedrock of informed public health decisions, enabling targeted prevention programs, effective screening initiatives, and evidence-based resource allocation in our fight against this disease.”
With this resolute commitment, the Institute is dedicated to building a comprehensive and accurate National Cancer Registry under the NaCaRe system – a powerful tool that will ultimately inform targeted interventions, shape effective policies, and bring renewed hope to the fight against cancer in Kenya.
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