KESHO: United by Unique, The Kenyan Perspective

Kenya Society of Haematology and Oncology (KESHO) shared a post on LinkedIn:

“KESHO CME Recap | World Cancer Day High-Level Conversation
“United by Unique: The Kenyan Perspective” | 5 Feb 2026 | 7:00–8:30 PM (EAT)

Tonight, the Kenya Society of Haematology and Oncology (KESHO) convened a high-level World Cancer Day conversation to move cancer care beyond awareness and into action — grounded in Kenya’s lived realities and system priorities.

With 600 attendees at peak, the discussion reinforced a clear message: cancer outcomes improve when systems work reliably, financing is sustainable and care is designed around the person’s full journey, from suspicion to diagnosis, treatment and survivorship.

Key themes from the discussion:

• Early diagnosis as the biggest lever for better outcomes and lower costs.
  Late diagnosis worsens survival and deepens financial distress for families and the health system.
• Financing and UHC reform must match real-world pathways.
  Coverage design matters – continuity of care depends on benefits that reduce interruptions, delays and administrative friction.
• Reliability of services: equipment uptime, supply chains and approvals.
  Timely care depends on functional systems from pre-authorisation processes to medicine availability and consistent access to diagnostics and radiotherapy.
• Decentralising diagnosis and strengthening community navigation.
  A strong call emerged for bringing services closer to communities including the idea of moving the diagnosis/sample rather than moving the patient, supported by referral networks, sample transport and telemedicine.
• People-centred cancer care.
  Patient voices reinforced that quality care must consider the practical realities patients face: access, affordability, delays and the emotional and social burden of illness.

Thank you to Prisca Githuka for grounding the conversation in lived experience and to our panelists, Dr. Ouma Oluga, Dr. James Nyikal, Dr. Diana Marion and Dr. Ahmed Ogwell for their insights”

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