By Henry Kibira
David Makumi, the vice
chairman of Kenya Cancer Association is the winner of this year’s prestigious
International Society of Nurses in Cancer Care Past President’s Award. He was
honoured during the closing ceremony of the 17th international
conference on cancer nursing in Prague, Czech Republic, on Thursday.
The award was for his
contribution in advancing cancer care Kenya. Makumi dedicated the award to
cancer survivors and activists, who have fought for the enactment of the cancer
law. “I would like to dedicate this award to cancer survivors and cancer
activists who have fought long and hard behind the scenes for the passage of
the bill.”
His work in providing free
breast cancer screening and health education at the Aga Khan University
Hospital was singled out as a model that can be emulated by developing
countries. The organizers of the conference that was attended by more than 600
delegates lauded Makumi for enabling more than 15,000 women to undergo
screening in the last 3 years.
The award is given to a cancer
professional, who has initiated and sustained a cancer care programme in the
third world. The acknowledgement is a boost to efforts to combat the cancer
that is now the number three killer in Kenya. Makumi was recognized for his
work in cancer advocacy, especially in lobbying for the passage and subsequent
signing into law of National Cancer Prevention and Control Act 2012.
“My heart goes out to
thousands of people] who lost the battle to cancer without seeing the cancer
bill become law,” he said. Makumi is the first cancer caregiver from sub
Saharan Africa to receive the award, having been honoured last year by the
Oncology Society of the USA for his advocacy, public education, and awareness
campaigns. KCA is a non-profit lobby group, and an umbrella body to cancer
professionals, survivors, and interested individuals who are involved in
addressing the condition in Kenya.
Source: The Star
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