Buuri and Igembe in Meru County have been identified as areas with high cancer cases. Data from Meru Hospice, which provides palliative care to numerous cancer patients, reveals that Buuri, Igembe, and Imenti have significant numbers of cancer patients. Stakeholders are now calling for comprehensive research and interventions to address the alarming situation.
According to the data, Meru has been recognized as one of the counties with high cancer prevalence rates, a fact underscored by the large number of patients seeking treatment at local facilities such as Meru Hospice, Meru Teaching and Referral Hospital, St. Theresa’s Mission Hospital Kiirua, and Chogoria Mission Hospital in nearby Tharaka Nithi County.
Gladys Mucee, CEO of Meru Hospice and a specialist palliative care nurse, stated that many of their patients come from specific areas, emphasizing the need for research to identify the underlying causes. She highlighted that while they serve patients from other counties, they have observed a concerning number of cases from Kaelo and Kiegoi in Igembe, particularly cancers associated with the gastrointestinal tract.
“We have so many cases from Igembe. Some of the specific areas where research is required are Kiegoi and Kaelo. We are getting so many from those areas, but no research has been done. We are thinking, maybe, could it be the herbicides that are used?” Mucee questioned.
She also pointed out the need for research to investigate whether the debris left after the Mau Mau war could be linked to the rising cancer cases in the region.
Mucee noted that data showed many patients come from Buuri where large commercial plantations are located, and the miraa growing region of Igembe, and said only research could provide scientific evidence
“Research is needed, because you just can’t tell people it is the miraa, because miraa has been there for hundred years and there were no cancers,” she said.
“We still have other parts of Meru which are more hit by cancer. We have Buuri where we getting many cases of stomach, and prostate cancers, especially patients who come from near flower farms and those who are horticulture farmers. We actually don’t know why we are getting so many cases from Buuri,” she added.
Mucee said Giaki, Chugu and Munithu areas in North Imenti also have many cancer cases.
She noted that out of the patients under the hospice, there were more women than men.
Most women suffer from breast and cervical cancer while men were mostly affected by stomach, mouth, colon, rectum and prostate cancers.
Washington Muthamia, the Njuri Ncheke Supreme Council of Ameru elders secretary general (programmes) said low awareness about symptoms lead to late diagnosis, thus compromising effective treatment.
Mr Muthamia while lauding the hospice for helping poor families affected by cancer, said rural populations often miss out on early detection opportunities due to fewer screening initiatives and outreach programs.
“I also hope the programme will carry out awareness campaigns to educate the communities about cancer causes, especially lifestyle-based, food poisoning due to post-harvest food handling practices, cancer prevention and treatment,” he said.
Prof Karambu Ringera, the founder of International Peace Initiatives (IPI) grows nutritious ‘superfoods’ and cancer fighting crops at her farm at Kithoka in North Imenti Constituency. At her farm which locals flock she has planted crops she said were highly nutritious and have properties to boost health including cassava, lemon grass, moringa, avocados, papaya, mint lemon, blackjack and sweet potatoes.
“These are very easy to grow plants and we want people to do it,” Prof Ringera said.
She has a community empowerment programme where she educates locals about healthy foods, farming, in addition to health and education programs for the community’s benefit.
“My sister died from cancer in May 2024. Cancer has touched and snatched the life of one person in many families I know today,” she revealed.
Ringera regretted that cancer had brought much suffering to the community.
“We need to find ways to fight it. Our own indigenous knowledge is the best place to begin. Cancer was rare in those days. With modern medicine, cancer is the norm. We need to ask ourselves some deep questions about what is happening in the world today. Africa holds a lot of answers to modern problems, but our genius is buried in our colonised mindsets,” she said.
