Some 442 people have tested positive for coronavirus, the Health ministry has announced.
Health CAS Dr Rashid Aman said Uasin Gishu county is among the top 10 regarding the country’s coronavirus infection cases. Some 651 people have been confirmed to have Covid-19 in the couny.
“This means this disease is firmly in all parts of the country and is spreading everyday.”
Uasin Gishu’s more than 400 Covid-19 cases in the county have been managed through the home-based care programme.
Dr Aman said the ministry’s county visits are made to assure residents that the health problem is a matter of national concern.
He cautioned that although restriction measures were eased, the infection numbers have continued to rise.
“This is not the time to put down your guard,” Dr Aman said, adding that residents at the community level need to be alert.
The disease was first reported in Kenya on March 13, and since many areas of development have been disrupted, including education and the economy.
Further, Aman said there was a dip in citizens’ deliberate access to medical attention as many are afraid of contracting the disease.
Political rallies
Dr Aman cautioned Kenyans against attending political rallies, saying they create the best environment for the spread of the virus.
He said in the run-up to the election, politicians may want to organise rallies, but urged Kenyans to stay away as most rallies violate containment measures.
“The first line of defence against the disease is yourself.”
The government has made cancer treatment closer to mwananchi, the CAS said.
Speaking in Uasin Gishu county on Friday, he said the 10 new chemotherapy centres have easened the burden of cancer patients who had to travel to access them.
Three radiotherapy centres in Nakuru, Garissa and Mombasa will soon be launched to enhance access to the services.
Citing the Breast Cancer awareness month which is globally marked in October, Dr Aman called for early screening and detection and called for an end to stigma associated with cancer.
In Kenya, the cancer month is being marked under the theme Give Hope Save Lives.
The campaign aims to rally all stakeholders to raise awareness on the disease that has placed a burden on the health system.
It is estimated that cancer is the third leading cause of death after infectious and cardiovascular diseases and an annual case of 32,000 deaths. It is the leading cancer in the country.
Dr Aman said awareness, screening services and early detection are still low. Only 25pc of women aged 15-49 years have performed a self breast examination.
He said there is a need to dismiss misconceptions about the disease.
The Health ministry has admitted that awareness as well as education on early detection is the sure way to fight breast cancer.
[This story is being updated]
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