Busia,

Thursday April 6, 2023

K.N.A

By Salome Alwanda

Spouses of Governors from the Lake Region Economic Block (LREB) have requested governors to push for establishment of their offices.

Led by their chairperson Emily Nyaribo, the first ladies argued that they have enormous work to assist the governors and this could only be achieved through substantive offices and budgetary allocations.

“We want to urge the governors to work closely with the County Assemblies so that they can come up with legislation supporting the establishment of these offices,” she said.

Nyaribo who is also Nyamira County first lady, stated that spouses to governors engage in activities like supporting the fight against cervical cancer, Sexual Gender Based Violence, Menstrual Hygiene, tree planting among others

Meanwhile, she urged the local residents to visit health facilities for early diagnosis of cervical cancer so that it could be treated.

Nyaribo urged men to remain faithful to their partners instead of engaging in extra marital affairs.

The official at the same time encouraged parents to ensure that their daughters aged between 10 to 14 years are vaccinated against HPV.

“I also want to encourage our healthcare providers to go for cancer screening as a number of them concentrate on treating patients and forget their health status,” Nyaribo noted.

Busia first lady Selline Otuoma urged parents to ensure that their daughters aged between 10 to 14 years are vaccinated against HPV.

Mrs. Otuoma explained that the vaccine is not harmful but it could protect the future generations.

“The children are our future generation and if we start by vaccinating them, we are sure that the future will be bright,” she said, adding that men should also go for a check up on prostate cancer.

She promised to support the health sector in sensitizing the local residents and mobilize for the required resources.

“I also want to urge young girls to abstain from early sex in order to be safe from cervical cancer,” she said.

Busia Governor Paul Otuoma on his part said that there is need to demystify myths surrounding cancer disease which has been crowded by a lot of myths over the years.

“If we listen to what is being said and practice what is being advised, we can demystify this disease,” he said.

Otuoma explained that cancer cases should not cause great health problems if early diagnosis is carried out on patients.

He expressed his commitment to supporting the spouses of the 47 governors across the country in advocacy and sensitization of local residents on cancer issues.

“It is upon us to make laws that can make things easier for us,” he said adding that there is need for governors to work closely with county assemblies with a view to having legislations that could set aside budgets for resources required in treating such diseases.

Otuoma further argued that aflatoxin could also be a major cause of cancer and urged the local residents to ensure that all foods are stored under good hygienic conditions.

The governor reminded the first ladies to mainstream menstrual health hygiene in their activities adding that there is need for partners to look holistically at the girl child so that the society understands that it is a biological phenomenon.

“Our people don’t like talking about menstrual hygiene openly. They keep it as secret and yet it is a natural thing,” he said adding that he would advocate for menstrual hygiene within the Lake Region Economic Block and also as a Kenyan to make sure that the message reaches all girls and women.

Busia Acting County Commissioner Kipchumba Ruto urged local residents to come out for early diagnosis of cancer disease.

Ruto noted that if diagnosed early, the disease is curable while late diagnosis disrupts socio economic activities.

He at the same time urged local residents to plant more trees and grow more food for better health.

Busia County Director for Preventive Health Services Janerose Mabuchi said that in the year 2021/22, the country had a total of 5238 out of which 3211 died hence the need for early detection.

Ambuchi added that in the same year, Busia County targeted to screen 31,120 but only managed to screen 11, 250 out of which 424 had cancer, and 155 were treated.

The forum brought together nine governors’ spouses from Lake Region Economic Block namely Emily Nyaribo (Nyamira), Betty Mutai (Kericho), Agnes Ayako (Migori), Janet Barasa (Kakamega), Betty Orengo (Siaya), Dorothy Nyong’o (Kisumu), Selline Barchok (Bomet), Lilian Natembeya (Trans Nzioa) and Selline Otuoma (Busia) to push for the cervical cancer awareness agenda.

Courtesy K.N.A