(L-R) Alim Popat, overall winner of the 32nd Annual Gertrude’s Hospital Foundation Charity Golf Tournament, receives his award from Alec Davis, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Gertrude’s Children’s Hospital.
Gertrude’s Children’s Hospital is calling for more partnerships to advance early diagnosis and treatment of cancer in children. At the center of this appeal was the 32nd Annual Charity Golf Tournament held at the Muthaiga Golf Club over the weekend, where corporate sponsors, individual players, and donors gathered to raise funds and awareness for pediatric cancer care in Kenya.
Childhood cancer, once regarded as rare, is now a significant health concern in Kenya. The Global Cancer Observatory reports approximately 3,000 new childhood cancer cases annually, though many more go undetected due to limited awareness and access to healthcare.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Robert Nyarango, Chief Executive Officer of Gertrude’s Children’s Hospital, emphasized the importance of early detection and collaborative action in addressing the issue. “It is regrettable that the survival rate for childhood cancer in Kenya is only about 20 percent. Delayed diagnosis is a major contributor to this, as symptoms of childhood cancers are often mistaken for less serious illnesses,” Dr. Nyarango explained. “Early detection is critical, as cancers identified in their early stages are more responsive to treatment. Success in this mission requires collaborative and innovative approaches such as this Charity Golf Tournament.”
Funds from the event will support the Kenya Childhood Cancer Program, an initiative launched by Gertrude’s Children’s Hospital in collaboration with Gertrude’s Hospital Foundation in 2019. The program seeks to enhance early cancer diagnosis and improve access to treatment for children across Kenya, particularly in underserved areas. Since its inception, it has successfully diagnosed and treated 89 children.
Les Baille, Board Chair of the Gertrude’s Hospital Foundation, highlighted the need for more collaborations to build capacity in healthcare. “Through the right partnerships, Kenya can train more healthcare professionals, improve access to essential medicines, and integrate advanced technologies, such as molecular diagnostics, into cancer care,” Baille said.
He called on corporate partners, individual donors, and government stakeholders to join in the mission, stressing that every stakeholder has a role to play—whether in policy reform, financial support, or direct service delivery.
To increase early detection rates, the Kenya Childhood Cancer Program also emphasizes the importance of considering potential cancer symptoms during routine healthcare check-ups and raising community awareness about childhood cancer.
The program provides training for healthcare workers to recognize early warning signs, allowing them to refer cases to specialized centers for timely diagnosis and intervention.
For families struggling with treatment costs, the program offers financial assistance to ensure that financial hardship does not prevent children from accessing essential care. Dr. Nyarango emphasized that timely treatment is crucial for survival once a diagnosis is confirmed. Through donations from corporate donors and private sector partnerships, the program is able to subsidize these costs, thereby relieving families of the financial burden and ensuring children receive appropriate care.
With ongoing partnerships and community support, Gertrude’s Children’s Hospital remains committed to improving the future for children facing cancer in Kenya.