Raising Cancer Awareness
The Rotary Kenya Cancer Program Initiative
Courtesy Ambassador Dr. Josephine Ojiambo
This Cancer Program stems from one of the initiatives of RI President Shekhar Mehta for 2021-2022 that focuses on the prevention and treatment of cancers. The program seeks to address the challenges such as the lack of access to treatment protocols, products, costs, and insurance and professional caregivers as well as lack of public education and awareness. It also hopes to navigate the non-responsive national policy on specific factors relating to cancers. Additionally, it deals with the problem of lack of access to information, awareness and advocacy for cancer survivors as well as changing sedentary lifestyles.
Cancer is a disease in which some of the body’s cells grow uncontrollably and spread to other parts of the body and is the third leading cause of death in Kenya. This initiative provides an opportunity for Rotary clubs to engage in service projects that focus on the needs of men and women including:
▪ Health and wellness.
▪ Reproductive tract cancers in from a life cycle approach
▪ Health services available: basics and options for promotive, preventive, treatment and rehabilitative care
▪ Community action, public education, and awareness, advocacy and policy.
Upcoming Events
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How Clubs Can Participate
1. Attend the webinars and present for care: early screening and diagnosis.
2. “Each one bring one”
3. Engage in a project that addresses the needs of cancer survivors and their families.
4. Implement a current club project through the lens of a cancer survivor.
5. Use Rotary knowledge resources, such as Rotary Action Groups, Peace Fellows and The Rotary Foundation Cadre, to develop and implement a cancer project.
6. Monitor and measure the impact of the project.
7. Tell the project story in the community, on social media and in Rotary Showcase.
8. Fundraising efforts towards the Rotary Cancer Trust
9. Collaborative with other clubs and districts, Rotary knowledge experts, Community knowledge experts, Community organizations and National/regional and global organizations with a local presence.
Ambassador Dr. Josephine Ojiambo heads the Health Programs at District 9212.
