Tharaka Nithi County government will partner with a US based charitable organization Touch of Love Hospital (TOLI) in addressing cancer menace in Mt Kenya region.
Officials from the organization and the county health department officers today had consultative meeting at Chuka County Referral Hospital and agreed to collaborate on extensive research in a bid to find out cause of the rising cases particularly in Tharaka Nithi and Meru counties.
The organization in partnership with Kenya Connection Kids (KCK) based in Kenya have so far donated 75 ultra-modern hospital beds and mattresses to the hospital worth Sh2.7 million and 20 wheel chairs.
The partnership will also involve an exchange program between the county’s medical officers and those from US.
TOLI Founder Dr Emad Eddie Yassa said a team of doctors among them oncologists will visit the county next year for a medical camp that will major on cancer screening so as to determine the disease prevalence in the region.
While promising long term partnership with the county in a bid to improve health services, Dr Eddie said the organization targets at donating more 120 hospital beds that will be delivered by next year.
“We will continue to partner with this county in improving health services and particularly in addressing the cancer menace,” Dr Eddie said.
The County Health Executive Dr Gichuiya Nthuraku said establishing the root cause of cancer was the only way to fight it arguing that prevention is easier than treatment.
“Mt Kenya region has had an unusual upsurge in cancer cases and there is need for health researchers to partner in establishing its root cause,” Dr Nthuraku said.
TOLI will also facilitate educative programs on dietary in bid to reduce lifestyle diseases in the county, Dr Eddie said.
The organization also partners with local organizations and the church and brings transformation to families in poor communities through trainings, issuance of micro-loans (ranging between Sh20, 000 and Sh30, 000) and Christ discipleship.
