In Wajir County, a concerning rise in oesophageal cancer cases has come to light, painting a grim picture of the state of cancer care in the region. According to a new study published in the ecancermedicalscience journal, oesophageal cancer now accounts for 44 percent of all cancer diagnoses at Wajir County Referral Hospital, making it the most common form of cancer there. The findings, conducted by a team of medical experts, reveal a troubling shift in the health landscape of northern Kenya, where patients face significant hurdles in receiving timely and effective cancer care.
The study noted that cervical cancer followed at 28 percent, breast cancer at 24 percent, and prostate cancer at four percent, but it is oesophageal cancer that stands out as an escalating health crisis. This uptick in cases is particularly alarming given that many patients experience symptoms for as long as six years before receiving a diagnosis. Delayed detection is attributed mainly to low levels of cancer awareness, significant healthcare access challenges, and cultural barriers that deter early medical consultation.
The situation in Wajir reflects a broader national trend. According to the 2022 Globocan report, Kenya saw 44,726 new cancer cases and 29,317 deaths from cancer within that year alone. Breast, cervical, and oesophageal cancers dominate among women, while prostate, oesophageal, and colorectal cancers are the leading types among men. Unfortunately, oesophageal cancer remains associated with the poorest survival rates nationally, as highlighted in the Kenya Mortality and Cause of Death Report spanning 2012 to 2021.
Across the country, cancer care is marred by numerous systemic challenges. Limited awareness about symptoms, widespread stigma, cultural taboos, and a critical shortage of trained oncologists all contribute to late diagnoses and poor outcomes. While urban areas like Nairobi benefit from having healthcare facilities clustered within short distances, rural counties such as Wajir are left grappling with minimal resources. In Wajir County, only one oncologist is available to serve the entire population, and radiotherapy services are nonexistent. Although chemotherapy is offered at the county referral hospital, patients requiring more specialized care must travel to the Garissa Regional Cancer Centre, which only began operating in 2021.
Interviews with a cohort of 25 cancer patients participating in the study revealed a harsh reality: financial constraints, lack of accessible services, and limited treatment options severely hinder their cancer journeys. Many patients reported preferring treatment at better-equipped centres like Garissa or Nairobi, with only a tiny fraction choosing home-based care due to circumstances beyond their control. There was a strong consensus among patients on the need for local cancer centres, affordable treatment options, regular screening programs, earlier referrals, and improved health insurance coverage to reduce the financial burden of care.
The inequity in cancer services between urban and rural populations continues to be a major concern in Kenya. Experts caution that without urgent intervention from policymakers, the country will continue to suffer from preventable cancer deaths. Sub-Saharan Africa already sees nearly 2,000 cancer-related deaths daily, and Kenya is not exempt from this regional crisis. Financial toxicity, or the economic hardship associated with treatment costs, further exacerbates the situation, contributing to poor adherence to therapy and worse health outcomes. Globally, cancer care costs amount to an astronomical Sh255.2 trillion, and Kenyan families, particularly those in rural areas, are feeling the brunt of this burden.
Unless significant investment is made into improving cancer detection, treatment accessibility, and public education, Wajir’s rising oesophageal cancer crisis may just be the beginning of a much larger national healthcare challenge.
