Pediatric cancer is a growing health challenge in Kenya, where an estimated 3,200 new cases are diagnosed in children and adolescents each year. However, many cases go unreported due to healthcare access and early diagnosis challenges, meaning the actual number could be significantly higher. Cancer is the third leading cause of death in the country, and among children, it represents a significant health burden.
In Kenya, survival rates for pediatric cancers are considerably lower than in high-income countries, mainly due to late-stage diagnosis, limited availability of specialized treatment, and insufficient healthcare infrastructure. The survival rate is estimated at around 20-30%, compared to 80-90% in developed countries. Delays in seeking medical attention, misdiagnosis, and long travel distances to cancer treatment centers further complicate the situation.
Critical Challenges in Kenya’s Pediatric Cancer Care:
1. Late Diagnosis: Many children with cancer in Kenya are diagnosed at advanced stages of the disease. This is often due to a lack of awareness about cancer symptoms among both the public and healthcare workers. As a result, children are frequently treated for other conditions, such as infections, before the true diagnosis is made.
2. Limited Access to Specialized Care: There are only a few hospitals in Kenya with pediatric oncology units. Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral & Research Hospital (KUTRRH), Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH), and the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) are the primary centers offering specialized pediatric cancer care. However, these facilities are overwhelmed by the large number of patients, leading to long waiting times for diagnosis and treatment.
3. High Cost of Treatment: The cost of cancer treatment in Kenya is prohibitively expensive for many families. While chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation therapy are available, they are often inaccessible due to the financial burden. Most Kenyan families pay for healthcare out of pocket, and only a small proportion have insurance coverage. This results in many children not completing their treatment or not receiving the full spectrum of care needed.
4. Limited Availability of Medications: Chemotherapy drugs and other essential cancer medications are often in short supply, further delaying treatment. Additionally, the lack of pediatric-specific formulations of cancer drugs in many facilities complicates dosing and treatment protocols.
5. Lack of Palliative and Supportive Care: Comprehensive care, including pain management and psychosocial support, is limited in Kenya. This lack of supportive
care services leads to poor quality of life for children undergoing treatment and their families.
Efforts to Improve Pediatric Cancer Care in Kenya:
In recent years, Kenya has made some strides toward improving pediatric cancer care. Establishing specialized cancer centers, partnerships with international organizations, and the government’s commitment to addressing cancer through the National Cancer Control Strategy 2017–2022 are positive steps forward. Efforts are being made to raise awareness about pediatric cancer and improve early detection through training of healthcare workers and community outreach programs.
Additionally, partnerships with international organizations, such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer, aim to boost Kenya’s capacity to diagnose and treat childhood cancer. These initiatives are working to provide affordable medications, train healthcare workers, and improve access to diagnostic tools and treatment protocols.
By offering specialized treatment, increasing awareness, and building capacity among healthcare professionals and organizations, we are improving the survival rates and quality of life for children diagnosed with cancer
However, despite these efforts, much work remains to be done to reduce the gap in pediatric cancer outcomes in Kenya. Increasing access to early diagnosis, expanding treatment facilities, subsidizing the cost of care, and ensuring that cancer medications are readily available are critical steps in improving survival rates for children with cancer in the country.