Kenya Cancer Association (KENCASA)

Kenya Cancer Association (KENCASA) Description

Kenya Cancer Association (KENCASA) is the leading national voluntary run non profit making organization established in Kenya in 1995 after recognizing that Cancer was emerging as a leading cause of death in the country. Our Core mandate is to raise public awareness on Cancer as well as mobilize and lobby stakeholders to prioritize cancer in their programs.

Vision

To provide leadership in Cancer Control, Advocacy, Awareness, research and patient support to save lives and ensure high quality cancer care in Kenya.

Mission

Lead a unified approach to reduce the impact of cancer through prevention and cancer control, provision of information and support of people affected by cancer, undertake and fund cancer research and drive advocacy in all cancer related issues.

Objective

To Educate the public on Cancer and the importance of Prevention and Early Detection.

Acheivements

Kenya Cancer was registered as a society in 1995 but before that Kenya Cancer existed as the Cancer council of East Africa. It has been involved in a number of pioneering work in the areas of cancer. The following are only some of the achievements of Kenya Cancer

Involved in the establishment of the children’s cancer ward through the efforts of the Late Prof Kasili, a past chair of the association.

The late Prof Kasili was also involved in the set of the Nairobi Hospice situated at Kenyatta National Hospital.
Kenya Cancer has been involved in numerous screening and cancer awareness activities in the country over the last 17 years.
The biggest achievement so far of Kenya Cancer has been initiating, developing with experts and government ministries for the National cancer Control Act that was signed into Law by the Kenyan President in 2012.

What We Do

To realize our vision and mission, Kenya Cancer Association undertakes a broad range of activities.

Mobilization

Kenya Cancer Association seeks to mobilize Kenyans to join the war against cancer through nationwide recruitment and participation in cancer control activities.

Information

We provide accurate upto date information about all aspect of cancer to:-

The public at large
Cancer patients and their families
Healthcare professionals
Government, opinion leaders and other policy makers.

Prevention

Through Early detection and prevention programmes, The Kenya Cancer Association seeks promote cancer prevention through:-

Lifestyle modification
Stop smoking and other tobacco use
Promote National screening and Early detection programmes
Empowering people with information about early symptoms and signs

Patient Support

The Kenya Cancer Association seeks to strengthen existing patient support groups and promote formation of new ones to help improve the quality of life of cancer patients, their families and caregivers.

Treatment

Promoting access of high quality evidence based cancer treatment for all Kenyans through:-

Working with KESHO and other relevant professional association of institutes
Raise funds for treatment to aid needy cases through Vital Cancer Care and coordinate treatment support initiatives by well wishers both local and international
Lobby the relevant government ministries and industry players to provide affordable and accessible cancer treatment
Advocate for adequate trained/skilled manpower in cancer care provision.

Advocacy

The Kenya Cancer Association seeks to provide an independent voice for improved cancer control policy based on the evidence. This will be done through:-

Lobbying for appropriate legislation and policy guidelines by government
Engage Corporates, Non Governmental Organisations and other employers to incorporate cancer control activities in their programmes.

Fundraising

The Kenya Cancer Association will raise money to support cancer control activities through:-

Events
Direct donations of funds or in kind
Bequests

Network

The Kenya Cancer Association will work closely with local and international organisations in pursuit of a common goal.

KENYA CANCER ASSOCIATION BOARD MEMBERS

Mrs. Ann Korir – Chairperson

Anne is a Public Health Researcher working at the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) in the area of Non Communicable Diseases (NCDs). She is the Director of the Nairobi Cancer Registry and currently working on developing a National Cancer Registry for Kenya together with local and international partners. She is a member of the NCD Research Programme in KEMRI, the Africa Representative in the International Association of Cancer Registries (IACR) and a member of the Board of Trustees National Cancer Institute of Kenya (NCIK). She has served in several Technical Working Groups of the Ministry of Health and internationally.

She has been an advocate for cancer for more than fifteen years when she joined the Kenya Cancer Association (KENCASA), a non-profit making organization made up of volunteers. She served as Treasurer since 2009 and in 2011 she took up the role of Chairperson, to date. Together with other Board members they formed stakeholders committee that developed a Cancer Control Bill for the country, enacted by former President Mwai Kibaki in 2012 and gazetted in 2015.

Mr. David Makumi – Vice Chair

David is the regional Manager for Cancer Program at Aga Khan University Hospital.

Dr.Robai Gakunga – Treasurer

Dr. Robai Gakunga is a private healthcare researcher in Kenya, offering research consultancy services in Palliative Care, Cancer and other Non Communicable Diseases.

She studied Veterinary Medicine at the University of Nairobi and holds an MBA (Strategic Management) from the United States International University-Africa (USIU-A). She is an alumna of the International Prevention Research Institute (iPRI) where she studied Cancer Registration, Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Global Health and is the treasurer of the Board of Directors of Kenya Cancer Association.

Bishop, Dr. Michuki Stanely – Member

Bishop,Michuki is the Founder and Chair person of the Kenya Cancer Foundation America and also currently the County Coordinator for KenCasa in charge of the KenCasa Chapters in the counties. He also is the Chair of the Muran`ga County Health Board.

Mr. Patrick Mbugua – Legal Advisor

Patrick is an advocate of the High Court of Kenya in private practice and advises the board on legal issues pertaining the organization.

Dr. Susan Wanuri Ngure – Member.

Dr. Susan Wanuri Ngure is a senior officer at the Ministry of Education Science and Technology and also an adjunct lecturer, Riara University.She holds Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) from Edith Cowan University, Western Australia. Susan is a passionate Breast Cancer Survivor who uses her experience to reach out to those affected and those undergoing cancer treatment.

Mr. Newton Siele – Special Programmes Advisor

Newton is the regional manager in Novo Nordisk, Kenya. He was previously the chairperson for KenCasa.

Mr. Biwott Ngeny- Member

Mr. Ngeny Biwott is the Group Chairman of the Board of Directors of Kenya Commercial Bank Ltd. He holds a Master of Science degree in Civil Emergency, Risk and Crisis Management from the University of Hertfordshire. He is also a Director within KCB (Tanzania) Limited.

Hon. Peris Chepchumba Simam- Member

Hon. Simam is the former Member of Parliament for Eldoret West Constituency.

Mr. T Devgun – Chairman StomaWorld Kenya

Devgun is a businessman and GIST cancer survivor