Plans to issue NHIF cards to elderly

play a part in the process.

According to Dr Teti, men should encourage their wives and daughters between the ages of 10 to 14 years to go for screening as leaders in their families.

He urges men to avoid having sex with multiple partners for it is a risk to their spouses.

ing blood flow before menstruation,” he said.

He added that if the disease is not treated early, it can spread to other parts like bladder, kidney and even brain, altering their functions.

Dr Joan Bor, manager in the Department of Prevention and Early Detention of Cancer in the Ministry of Health (MoH), disclosed that globally, cervical cancer is the number four leading cause of cancer deaths, while it is second in Kenya. Besides, it is the foremost in the number of new cancer infections in Kenya.

“Every day we lose nine women to cervical cancer, the most affected population being women of age bracket 35 to 45,” she said.

The disease can also be cured through HPV vaccine or treatment, the reason the government is encouraging women to go for screening often for early detection. Men are also asked to

Immaculate Nabalayo, a nurse, observes that many of the victims die silently because of the stigmatization.

“The society has stigmatized the whole thing by associating the disease with immorality. As a result, many women are not going for screening due to the misconceptions,” Nabalayo said.

She applauded the efforts by World Health Organization (WHO) to fight the disease.

According to WHO, the disease will be eliminated by 2030 if more than 75 per cent of women go for screening and vaccination is adhered to globally.

The MoH has also upped its game to ensure the disease is mitigated in Kenya.

According to Dr Bor, the ministry has emphasized on creating awareness through mainstream and social media platforms.

By Obegi Malack

Permanent Secretary (PS) in the State Department for Social Security and Protection Joseph Motari has said the government will issue NHIF cards to all vulnerable and elderly citizens under the Inua Jamii Programme.

Motari, who was addressing elderly folk at a local banking outlet in Kajiado, said women will benefit in the programme so as to reach out to the most vulnerable Kenyans.

Motari said the elders had received their arrears.

“We have given them Ksh8,000 each as accrued arrears from July to November,” said the PS.

He was in Kajiado County to oversee disbursement of Inua Jamii funds to 10,534 beneficiaries.

All the 1.1 million beneficiaries receive Ksh2,000 every month through six contracted commercial banks.

Apologizing on behalf of the government, he said the delay was caused by the political transition after the August polls.

The PS said the government will put in place a single registry for the elderly so that their support can be managed from one point for the money to reach the targeted people in time.