Nipate
Forum => Kenya Discussion => Topic started by: mya88 on November 25, 2015, 04:16:57 PM
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When President Uhuru Kenyatta visited India recently, there were proposals on better collaboration to ease the pain of cancer patients.
The suggestions included tapping doctors from India to work in the country, easier visa rules and strengthening of the local healthcare capacity to address gaps in specialised care.
India is often touted as a global success story in terms of low medical care costs and advanced healthcare delivery models.
There is a different take though on the country’s healthcare system. As reported recently in an article in The Economist, India’s healthcare sector has shortcomings too.
http://www.businessdailyafrica.com/Why-India-deal-will-not-make-much-difference-in-cancer-crisis/-/539444/2969852/-/ns8p6az/-/index.html (http://www.businessdailyafrica.com/Why-India-deal-will-not-make-much-difference-in-cancer-crisis/-/539444/2969852/-/ns8p6az/-/index.html)
I don't think this is the solution to our problem. We cannot even afford to pay our local healthcare providers that is why there are strikes every year, yet we have money to pay foreign doctors?
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Mya
There is significant shortages in medical specialities and if that can be imported so be it. It should be a short term fix not long term. Nairobi Hospital is building a huge wing specially for cancer they need specialists badly.
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Uhuru is a moron. He a neocolonial neophyte leading an emerging country. What Kenya needs is ability to manufacture drugs at low cost. We can grow Heroine and other needed plants to make level CII drugs/Narcotics such as morphine for purposes of pain management. What this bozo should look into in how we can acquire the relevant technologies to start producing these drugs locally. On AIDS we need to find a way to manufacture ARVs locally. Brazil and India has acquired patents or reverse engineered them with a lot of success.
TB we need to manufacture these drugs locally. If we can produce beer I do not see why we cannot bake yeast to produce antibiotics..
Otherwise this corrupt regime should back and go back to the drinking dens it came from
As for now a military medical approach to cancer should be used. For advanced cancers patients should be encouraged to take palliative care and stop wasting resources seeking a nonexistent cure in India or elsewhere
In Cancer there is several treatments " CUT; poison the malignant cells. period. you do not need Indians to cut or to administer Chemo IVs..
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What's the real problem with cancer in Kenya? Is it lack of specialists? Equipment?
I recently read about this Kenyan media personality who was only diagnosed with lung cancer after a trip to India. Are Kenyan medics that clueless or is cancer just something very difficult to diagnose?
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Lack of right medical procedures to be followed.. ie lab work and simple diagnosis test ..usually these Indian voyagers get diagnosed in Nairobi but there no inexpensive treatments in Nairobi so India becomes the solution. The other thing is most of these patients are waiting until end stage to go to hospital
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AM not sure most Kenyan doctors train on diagnosis.
What's the real problem with cancer in Kenya? Is it lack of specialists? Equipment?
I recently read about this Kenyan media personality who was only diagnosed with lung cancer after a trip to India. Are Kenyan medics that clueless or is cancer just something very difficult to diagnose?
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Its people like you who can invest in diagnosis equipment. That will help a lot. Also, all docs will needs to train on right protocols.
Lack of right medical procedures to be followed.. ie lab work and simple diagnosis test ..usually these Indian voyagers get diagnosed in Nairobi but there no inexpensive treatments in Nairobi so India becomes the solution. The other thing is most of these patients are waiting until end stage to go to hospital
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Mya
There is significant shortages in medical specialities and if that can be imported so be it. It should be a short term fix not long term. Nairobi Hospital is building a huge wing specially for cancer they need specialists badly.
Park
There are significant shortages of specialists all over the world, but is it really specialists we need to revamp the healthcare system? How many people will be able to afford these specialists? Cancer is becoming an epidemic in Kenya, as a first, the government should have invested in data to find out why that is the case, if at all they are serious about this......... ie GMO foods, Fertilizer, pesticide, steroids in Animals etc....... and mitigated the cause.
After we import the specialist, do we have the equipment and drugs to do the job in Kenya? I feel like majority of Kenyans can barely afford to see a regular doctor. Cancer is rampant. A few specialist may help they few who can afford it but the majority will still be on their own. Kenyan universities produce MD's in plenty each year, why not invests in training them to be specialist in India and returning home?
Short-term fix...maybe, but its still a Band-Aid solution
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What's the real problem with cancer in Kenya? Is it lack of specialists? Equipment?
I recently read about this Kenyan media personality who was only diagnosed with lung cancer after a trip to India. Are Kenyan medics that clueless or is cancer just something very difficult to diagnose?
Both. High tech equipment are necessary to run the test but a trained radiologist must read it and the specialist must know additional test to undertake to diagnose indefinitely or rule out. The fragmented healthcare system in Kenya leaves much to chance diagnoses. But it can be missed even with some of the best anywhere. Problem in Kenya is first access, cost, serious MD's and good state of the art equipment.......all very affordable given the bulk of money being looted in Kenya
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that is why a military approach to this disease the best way forward. At Kijabe hospital any advance cancer ailment is not treated but patient is advised to seek palliative care. Such is a sensible approach. Not all ailments are worthy pursuing cure for since the outcome is almost definitely gonna be death so the choice is how do you want to die. Do you want to die in india getting chemo or die at home surrounded by family with most of your body intact
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When President Uhuru Kenyatta visited India recently, there were proposals on better collaboration to ease the pain of cancer patients.
The suggestions included tapping doctors from India to work in the country, easier visa rules and strengthening of the local healthcare capacity to address gaps in specialised care.
India is often touted as a global success story in terms of low medical care costs and advanced healthcare delivery models.
There is a different take though on the country’s healthcare system. As reported recently in an article in The Economist, India’s healthcare sector has shortcomings too.
http://www.businessdailyafrica.com/Why-India-deal-will-not-make-much-difference-in-cancer-crisis/-/539444/2969852/-/ns8p6az/-/index.html (http://www.businessdailyafrica.com/Why-India-deal-will-not-make-much-difference-in-cancer-crisis/-/539444/2969852/-/ns8p6az/-/index.html)
I don't think this is the solution to our problem. We cannot even afford to pay our local healthcare providers that is why there are strikes every year, yet we have money to pay foreign doctors?
I have some friends trained doctors who cannot secure job in Kenya. How do you explain it? One of them trained in one of top university in europe.
Its akin to saying that our roads are bad because we lack engineers. Well, it's the same case, i.e. there are tons of jobless engineers trained with public money in kenya.
This problem is something else. Uhuru has no idea of what he is doing.
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unlike most medical conditions, cancer treatment is very complex and requires highly specialised multidiscplinary approach. You need a team of oncologist , radialogists , histopathologists , pharmacist sitting together and planning treatment. Kenya has a very chaotic , haphazard individualistic approach to managing cancer.
Kenya has no national guidelines on managing cancer. Every body does his /her own stuff. If you are diagnosed with cancer , better go to India or South Africa. Your survival chances will be better.
Institutions like Nairobi hospital and aga khan will never address the cancer problems in kenya. They see money . once money rans out they kick you out. Now they are swindling govt for investment funds under pretext that they will offers state of art treatment to ordinary mwana inchi. That will never happen.
Best start is for kenya to have role out a robust screening program me , offer vaccination against virus mediated cancers like liver cancer, cervical cancer .
Discorage smoking and changaa , educate public on early warning signs so they seek check up early, etc
Identify 4 regional centers around country and invest heavily on cancer diagnostic and therapeutics. Bring cancer specialists from India, South Africa , Europe , America to offer their skills on contracts etc.
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unlike most medical conditions, cancer treatment is very complex and requires highly specialised multidiscplinary approach. You need a team of oncologist , radialogists , histopathologists , pharmacist sitting together and planning treatment. Kenya has a very chaotic , haphazard individualistic approach to managing cancer.
Kenya has no national guidelines on managing cancer. Every body does his /her own stuff. If you are diagnosed with cancer , better go to India or South Africa. Your survival chances will be better.
Institutions like Nairobi hospital and aga khan will never address the cancer problems in kenya. They see money . once money rans out they kick you out. Now they are swindling govt for investment funds under pretext that they will offers state of art treatment to ordinary mwana inchi. That will never happen.
Best start is for kenya to have role out a robust screening program me , offer vaccination against virus mediated cancers like liver cancer, cervical cancer .
Discorage smoking and changaa , educate public on early warning signs so they seek check up early, etc
Identify 4 regional centers around country and invest heavily on cancer diagnostic and therapeutics. Bring cancer specialists from India, South Africa , Europe , America to offer their skills on contracts etc.
And if the regional centers are too expensive, maybe one can have faith in the East African Negro to pool resources and create one such center in each country.
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unlike most medical conditions, cancer treatment is very complex and requires highly specialised multidiscplinary approach. You need a team of oncologist , radialogists , histopathologists , pharmacist sitting together and planning treatment. Kenya has a very chaotic , haphazard individualistic approach to managing cancer.
Kenya has no national guidelines on managing cancer. Every body does his /her own stuff. If you are diagnosed with cancer , better go to India or South Africa. Your survival chances will be better.
Institutions like Nairobi hospital and aga khan will never address the cancer problems in kenya. They see money . once money rans out they kick you out. Now they are swindling govt for investment funds under pretext that they will offers state of art treatment to ordinary mwana inchi. That will never happen.
Best start is for kenya to have role out a robust screening program me , offer vaccination against virus mediated cancers like liver cancer, cervical cancer .
Discorage smoking and changaa , educate public on early warning signs so they seek check up early, etc
Identify 4 regional centers around country and invest heavily on cancer diagnostic and therapeutics. Bring cancer specialists from India, South Africa , Europe , America to offer their skills on contracts etc.
And if the regional centers are too expensive, maybe one can have faith in the East African Negro to pool resources and create one such center in each country.
I think we have the resources to invest on cancer treatment centers....I just don't think it is a priority enough for those in charge. No one seems to be in charge of anything. This new TZ president, I see him doing big thinks for his country. I will not be surprised if in future all roads start leading to TZ for such treatments.
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unlike most medical conditions, cancer treatment is very complex and requires highly specialised multidiscplinary approach. You need a team of oncologist , radialogists , histopathologists , pharmacist sitting together and planning treatment. Kenya has a very chaotic , haphazard individualistic approach to managing cancer.
Kenya has no national guidelines on managing cancer. Every body does his /her own stuff. If you are diagnosed with cancer , better go to India or South Africa. Your survival chances will be better.
Institutions like Nairobi hospital and aga khan will never address the cancer problems in kenya. They see money . once money rans out they kick you out. Now they are swindling govt for investment funds under pretext that they will offers state of art treatment to ordinary mwana inchi. That will never happen.
Best start is for kenya to have role out a robust screening program me , offer vaccination against virus mediated cancers like liver cancer, cervical cancer .
Discorage smoking and changaa , educate public on early warning signs so they seek check up early, etc
Identify 4 regional centers around country and invest heavily on cancer diagnostic and therapeutics. Bring cancer specialists from India, South Africa , Europe , America to offer their skills on contracts etc.
Jakoyo, are those institution supposed to be addressing the cancer problems in Kenya? Are they equipped with tools to take on cancer? Are they private or government funded?
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Issues like cancer, terrorism lifting the lid on our stinking morally bankrupt corrupt society and institutions.
Nobody wants to talk about where this cancer is coming from -is it our water, food systems, what has changed so dramatically in the last few years??? Further nobody wants to talk of inability of our run down public and even expensive private to diagnose properly
We are all about deals to make quick bucks
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Some cancers are very easy to treat while others are non treatable. Investing in diagnosis is key to treatment. I have heard of people getting misdiagnosed for months while the disease takes shape. This is inhuman. There is no protocol on most disease management and the few that have patients are mostly non compliant. They only see docs when sick.
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Cancers has always been there. But with the population increase , people living longer , better diagnosis ( on average) , and more public awareness , and publicity peppered with rhetoric and emotions , we are hearing people screaming ' cancer epidemic'
We don't have a central registry that collects all data on all cancer diagnoses. Nobody in Kenya will give you a clear analysis on the incidence , prevalence , associated factors and treatment out comes on cancer in Kenya. In Europe , cancer is managed under clinical networks
Issues like cancer, terrorism lifting the lid on our stinking morally bankrupt corrupt society and institutions.
Nobody wants to talk about where this cancer is coming from -is it our water, food systems, what has changed so dramatically in the last few years??? Further nobody wants to talk of inability of our run down public and even expensive private to diagnose properly
We are all about deals to make quick bucks
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These hospitals will have most of the diagnostic equipments and specialists. But these clinicians work very independently and in isolation with very big egos who do not communicate well , charge extortionate fees . I know how Nairobi Hospital operates in out. If you have a serious illness that would required in put and teamwork from different specialists and if your treatment is likely to be a long one , RAN AWAY FROM NAIROBI HOSPITAL.
unlike most medical conditions, cancer treatment is very complex and requires highly specialised multidiscplinary approach. You need a team of oncologist , radialogists , histopathologists , pharmacist sitting together and planning treatment. Kenya has a very chaotic , haphazard individualistic approach to managing cancer.
Kenya has no national guidelines on managing cancer. Every body does his /her own stuff. If you are diagnosed with cancer , better go to India or South Africa. Your survival chances will be better.
Institutions like Nairobi hospital and aga khan will never address the cancer problems in kenya. They see money . once money rans out they kick you out. Now they are swindling govt for investment funds under pretext that they will offers state of art treatment to ordinary mwana inchi. That will never happen.
Best start is for kenya to have role out a robust screening program me , offer vaccination against virus mediated cancers like liver cancer, cervical cancer .
Discorage smoking and changaa , educate public on early warning signs so they seek check up early, etc
Identify 4 regional centers around country and invest heavily on cancer diagnostic and therapeutics. Bring cancer specialists from India, South Africa , Europe , America to offer their skills on contracts etc.
Jakoyo, are those institution supposed to be addressing the cancer problems in Kenya? Are they equipped with tools to take on cancer? Are they private or government funded?
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@ Myaa,
I watched TZ president visit the referal hospital and so the horrors. He was very touched. His eyes were teary. I think TZ has got a great leader. I hope he gets the economic policy right and spur TZ to prosperity.
unlike most medical conditions, cancer treatment is very complex and requires highly specialised multidiscplinary approach. You need a team of oncologist , radialogists , histopathologists , pharmacist sitting together and planning treatment. Kenya has a very chaotic , haphazard individualistic approach to managing cancer.
Kenya has no national guidelines on managing cancer. Every body does his /her own stuff. If you are diagnosed with cancer , better go to India or South Africa. Your survival chances will be better.
Institutions like Nairobi hospital and aga khan will never address the cancer problems in kenya. They see money . once money rans out they kick you out. Now they are swindling govt for investment funds under pretext that they will offers state of art treatment to ordinary mwana inchi. That will never happen.
Best start is for kenya to have role out a robust screening program me , offer vaccination against virus mediated cancers like liver cancer, cervical cancer .
Discorage smoking and changaa , educate public on early warning signs so they seek check up early, etc
Identify 4 regional centers around country and invest heavily on cancer diagnostic and therapeutics. Bring cancer specialists from India, South Africa , Europe , America to offer their skills on contracts etc.
And if the regional centers are too expensive, maybe one can have faith in the East African Negro to pool resources and create one such center in each country.
I think we have the resources to invest on cancer treatment centers....I just don't think it is a priority enough for those in charge. No one seems to be in charge of anything. This new TZ president, I see him doing big thinks for his country. I will not be surprised if in future all roads start leading to TZ for such treatments.
-
Cancers has always been there. But with the population increase , people living longer , better diagnosis ( on average) , and more public awareness , and publicity peppered with rhetoric and emotions , we are hearing people screaming ' cancer epidemic'
Yes, it has always been there, but there is much more to the story that "improved awareness". One trend that should not require much arguentation is the observation that as Africans do better financially, they tend to take up Western lifestyles that are seen as signs of success, regardless of how unhealthy. Fresh sukuma-wiki gets replaced with all sorts of processed crap that "show" that the eater has "arrived". That sort of thing.
During the teacher's strike, I was astonished to read of one teacher's complaints about the effects of not getting paid. According to the person, things were so bad that his family was being forced to have breakfast with sweet potatoes instead of [highly processed] white bread, that they had been forced to cut down on the sugar in their tea, etc! (I wish I could manage to have sweet potatoes for breakfast every morning!)
Back on sukuma-wiki, a purely personal note: Whenever I visit, I am always astonished at the number of "well-off" Kenyans who consider it an embarrassment. Some form of meat, preferably beef, seems to be the thing for people who are "going places". The number of Kenyans on that path, and who barely get any fresh vegetables on a regular basis, is surprising. On my last visit home, when I got overwhelmed with the "meatiness", I told some fellow that on at least one day a week I eat only ugali and sukuma-wiki (which the local farmers produce for animal-feed and products from the seed), and I eat beef no more than twice a month. He couldn't understand that, perhaps because he was just in the process of getting a barmaid to throw onto a grill a huge slab of beef to go with the beers---which, according to said barmaid, are always ordered "kwa by case", unless one is poor and so, of necessity, must order a bottle at a time. (My friend does not consider himself poor.) The fellow also smokes and apparently never heard of exercise.
Personal anecdotes aside: Numerous studies have shown that while developed countries are trying to shape up, we are picking up where they leave at the bad end of things:
While cancer rates in general are decreasing in the United States and many western countries, they are increasing in less developed and economically transitioning countries, including Eastern European countries, because of adoption of unhealthy western lifestyles such as smoking and physical inactivity and consumption of calorie-dense food. Cancers that were once known as diseases of industrialized countries, such as lung, colon, and breast cancers, are now commonly occurring in economically transitioning and less developed countries. Most of these countries also continue to be disproportionately affected by cancers related to infectious agents, such as cervix, liver, and stomach cancers, which are potentially preventable.
http://cebp.aacrjournals.org/content/19/8/1893.full
Beyond food and lifestyle factors that individuals can control, there are air pollution, pollution from improper disposal of industrial waste, other forms of environmental pollution, etc. Here is Beijing today:
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-34957373
In Kenya (and similar places), is anyone monitoring what happens with industrial waste and other dangerous crap?
Mya88 notes:
Kenya, as a first, the government should have invested in data to find out why that is the case, if at all they are serious about this......... ie GMO foods, Fertilizer, pesticide, steroids in Animals etc....... and mitigated the cause.
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run from Nairobi Hospital to where?
These hospitals will have most of the diagnostic equipments and specialists. But these clinicians work very independently and in isolation with very big egos who do not communicate well , charge extortionate fees . I know how Nairobi Hospital operates in out. If you have a serious illness that would required in put and teamwork from different specialists and if your treatment is likely to be a long one , RAN AWAY FROM NAIROBI HOSPITAL.
unlike most medical conditions, cancer treatment is very complex and requires highly specialised multidiscplinary approach. You need a team of oncologist , radialogists , histopathologists , pharmacist sitting together and planning treatment. Kenya has a very chaotic , haphazard individualistic approach to managing cancer.
Kenya has no national guidelines on managing cancer. Every body does his /her own stuff. If you are diagnosed with cancer , better go to India or South Africa. Your survival chances will be better.
Institutions like Nairobi hospital and aga khan will never address the cancer problems in kenya. They see money . once money rans out they kick you out. Now they are swindling govt for investment funds under pretext that they will offers state of art treatment to ordinary mwana inchi. That will never happen.
Best start is for kenya to have role out a robust screening program me , offer vaccination against virus mediated cancers like liver cancer, cervical cancer .
Discorage smoking and changaa , educate public on early warning signs so they seek check up early, etc
Identify 4 regional centers around country and invest heavily on cancer diagnostic and therapeutics. Bring cancer specialists from India, South Africa , Europe , America to offer their skills on contracts etc.
Jakoyo, are those institution supposed to be addressing the cancer problems in Kenya? Are they equipped with tools to take on cancer? Are they private or government funded?
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Monki
Behaviors are impossible to change until something happens. people like their steak well done and anything else is a fight. Till then theres nothing you can do.
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quote author=MOON Ki link=topic=2690.msg18539#msg18539 date=1448836880]
Cancers has always been there. But with the population increase , people living longer , better diagnosis ( on average) , and more public awareness , and publicity peppered with rhetoric and emotions , we are hearing people screaming ' cancer epidemic'
Yes, it has always been there, but there is much more to the story that "improved awareness". One trend that should not require much arguentation is the observation that as Africans do better financially, they tend to take up Western lifestyles that are seen as signs of success, regardless of how unhealthy. Fresh sukuma-wiki gets replaced with all sorts of processed crap that "show" that the eater has "arrived". That sort of thing.
During the teacher's strike, I was astonished to read of one teacher's complaints about the effects of not getting paid. According to the person, things were so bad that his family was being forced to have breakfast with sweet potatoes instead of [highly processed] white bread, that they had been forced to cut down on the sugar in their tea, etc! (I wish I could manage to have sweet potatoes for breakfast every morning!)
Back on sukuma-wiki, a purely personal note: Whenever I visit, I am always astonished at the number of "well-off" Kenyans who consider it an embarrassment. Some form of meat, preferably beef, seems to be the thing for people who are "going places". The number of Kenyans on that path, and who barely get any fresh vegetables on a regular basis, is surprising. On my last visit home, when I got overwhelmed with the "meatiness", I told some fellow that on at least one day a week I eat only ugali and sukuma-wiki (which the local farmers produce for animal-feed and products from the seed), and I eat beef no more than twice a month. He couldn't understand that, perhaps because he was just in the process of getting a barmaid to throw onto a grill a huge slab of beef to go with the beers---which, according to said barmaid, are always ordered "kwa by case", unless one is poor and so, of necessity, must order a bottle at a time. (My friend does not consider himself poor.) The fellow also smokes and apparently never heard of exercise.
Personal anecdotes aside: Numerous studies have shown that while developed countries are trying to shape up, we are picking up where they leave at the bad end of things:
While cancer rates in general are decreasing in the United States and many western countries, they are increasing in less developed and economically transitioning countries, including Eastern European countries, because of adoption of unhealthy western lifestyles such as smoking and physical inactivity and consumption of calorie-dense food. Cancers that were once known as diseases of industrialized countries, such as lung, colon, and breast cancers, are now commonly occurring in economically transitioning and less developed countries. Most of these countries also continue to be disproportionately affected by cancers related to infectious agents, such as cervix, liver, and stomach cancers, which are potentially preventable.
http://cebp.aacrjournals.org/content/19/8/1893.full
Beyond food and lifestyle factors that individuals can control, there are air pollution, pollution from improper disposal of industrial waste, other forms of environmental pollution, etc. Here is Beijing today:
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-34957373
In Kenya (and similar places), is anyone monitoring what happens with industrial waste and other dangerous crap?
Mya88 notes:
Kenya, as a first, the government should have invested in data to find out why that is the case, if at all they are serious about this......... ie GMO foods, Fertilizer, pesticide, steroids in Animals etc....... and mitigated the cause.
[/quote]
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@Moonki,
You are right- even WHO recently classified processed foods and red meet as carcinogenic.
I agree, the lifestyle of your friend ( nyama choma , smoking and pombe ) is a big risk factor for cancer. You will agree with me that over 90% of kenyans cannot afford that lifestyle. So what are their risk ?
Number one killer cancer in Africa is cervical cancer. 80 - 90 % of cancer diagnosis in women is cervical cancer and most women die because of late diagnosis and substandard care. Cervical cancer is caused by a predominantly sexually transmitted virus . If we role out vaccination of our young girls , in next 20-30 yrs we may eradicate this cancer.
Breast cancers is also up there.
Number one reported cancer in men is colorectal cancer. Caused by several factors including the lifestyle you mentioned ( smoking , nyama choma , red meat etc) . Followed by lung , stomach and oesophagus cancer. - again closely associated with alcohol , smoking and bacterial infection called H Pylori ( dirty food and water ).
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@ Parkapen,
If given an option between seeking treatment at Nairobi Hospital and India - i would opt for India.
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Cancers has always been there. But with the population increase , people living longer , better diagnosis ( on average) , and more public awareness , and publicity peppered with rhetoric and emotions , we are hearing people screaming ' cancer epidemic'
Yes, it has always been there, but there is much more to the story that "improved awareness". One trend that should not require much arguentation is the observation that as Africans do better financially, they tend to take up Western lifestyles that are seen as signs of success, regardless of how unhealthy. Fresh sukuma-wiki gets replaced with all sorts of processed crap that "show" that the eater has "arrived". That sort of thing.
During the teacher's strike, I was astonished to read of one teacher's complaints about the effects of not getting paid. According to the person, things were so bad that his family was being forced to have breakfast with sweet potatoes instead of [highly processed] white bread, that they had been forced to cut down on the sugar in their tea, etc! (I wish I could manage to have sweet potatoes for breakfast every morning!)
Back on sukuma-wiki, a purely personal note: Whenever I visit, I am always astonished at the number of "well-off" Kenyans who consider it an embarrassment. Some form of meat, preferably beef, seems to be the thing for people who are "going places". The number of Kenyans on that path, and who barely get any fresh vegetables on a regular basis, is surprising. On my last visit home, when I got overwhelmed with the "meatiness", I told some fellow that on at least one day a week I eat only ugali and sukuma-wiki (which the local farmers produce for animal-feed and products from the seed), and I eat beef no more than twice a month. He couldn't understand that, perhaps because he was just in the process of getting a barmaid to throw onto a grill a huge slab of beef to go with the beers---which, according to said barmaid, are always ordered "kwa by case", unless one is poor and so, of necessity, must order a bottle at a time. (My friend does not consider himself poor.) The fellow also smokes and apparently never heard of exercise.
Personal anecdotes aside: Numerous studies have shown that while developed countries are trying to shape up, we are picking up where they leave at the bad end of things:
While cancer rates in general are decreasing in the United States and many western countries, they are increasing in less developed and economically transitioning countries, including Eastern European countries, because of adoption of unhealthy western lifestyles such as smoking and physical inactivity and consumption of calorie-dense food. Cancers that were once known as diseases of industrialized countries, such as lung, colon, and breast cancers, are now commonly occurring in economically transitioning and less developed countries. Most of these countries also continue to be disproportionately affected by cancers related to infectious agents, such as cervix, liver, and stomach cancers, which are potentially preventable.
http://cebp.aacrjournals.org/content/19/8/1893.full (http://cebp.aacrjournals.org/content/19/8/1893.full)
Beyond food and lifestyle factors that individuals can control, there are air pollution, pollution from improper disposal of industrial waste, other forms of environmental pollution, etc. Here is Beijing today:
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-34957373 (http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-34957373)
In Kenya (and similar places), is anyone monitoring what happens with industrial waste and other dangerous crap?
Mya88 notes:
Kenya, as a first, the government should have invested in data to find out why that is the case, if at all they are serious about this......... ie GMO foods, Fertilizer, pesticide, steroids in Animals etc....... and mitigated the cause.
The reasoning could be that they have eaten enough sukuma wiki to make up for the shortfall after their arrival. I also think that pollution cannot be ruled out as a contributor. I remember watching a documentary of a nasty cancer epidemic in Marsabit caused by the water. One may also want to look into that. How do factories dispose of their waste and that kind of thing.
That said, it is all speculation. Assuming there is such a thing as concerned authorities, they ought to spend some coins on experts, even local ones like Jakoyo to look at whatever data they can lay their hands on and determine, what if anything has changed.
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@ Termie,
Kenya like most countries has reasonably good data on HIV situation in Kenya. This is because of NASCOP. So the same can be done for cancer.
Termie - Are you still an AIDS / HIV denialist ?
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@ Termie,
Kenya like most countries has reasonably good data on HIV situation in Kenya. This is because of NASCOP. So the same can be done for cancer.
Termie - Are you still an AIDS / HIV denialist ?
Denialist is a rather partisan and unscientific term to use for someone holding a different point of view. But if it's the only choice, sure, I am a card-wielding denialist. Do I expect an epic retraction from the orthodoxy? No.
Now that you mention it, how likely could the cancer rates be related to the HIV phenomenon and related interventions? Is that an area worth looking into?
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@ Termie,
Kenya like most countries has reasonably good data on HIV situation in Kenya. This is because of NASCOP. So the same can be done for cancer.
Termie - Are you still an AIDS / HIV denialist ?
Denialist is a rather partisan and unscientific term to use for someone holding a different point of view. But if it's the only choice, sure, I am a card-wielding denialist. Do I expect an epic retraction from the orthodoxy? No.
Now that you mention it, how likely could the cancer rates be related to the HIV phenomenon and related interventions? Is that an area worth looking into?
That's a whole new subject. But yes there is a direct link between HIV and cancer. In Europe it is now standard practice to offer HIV test to all persons diagnosed with cancer. But not in Kenya.
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interesting read.
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Termie,
Yes there is direct link between viral infection from AIDS and cancer. Several Kenyans who have had the luck to get cancer treatment in stateside especially middle aged men have also been diagnosed with AIDs. One friend told me the common cancer I think is called Carcinoma
http://www.cancer.net/cancer-types/hiv-and-aids-related-cancer/overview