Govt urges parents and guardians to ensure girls below 14 years receive HPV vaccine
By Bancy Lole, January 30, 2026The government has intensified its nationwide fight against cervical and prostate cancer, following an unprecedented turnout at a week-long medical camp in Ngiriambu, Kirinyaga County, particularly among men seeking prostate cancer screening, a group that has traditionally recorded low uptake due to stigma and misinformation.
The cervical and prostate cancer screening and Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination exercise, held at Ngiriambu Primary School, is being implemented by the Ministry of Health in partnership with the National Cancer Institute as part of activities marking Cervical Cancer Awareness Month.
The programme focuses on early detection, prevention, and the expansion of access to life-saving cancer services at the grassroots level.
Speaking on Friday, January 30, 2026, during the exercise, Principal Secretary for Public Health and Professional Standards Mary Muthoni said the strong male participation signals a positive shift in community attitudes toward men’s health. She attributed the change to sustained public education and sensitisation efforts by the Ministry of Health.
“This is a very encouraging development. For many years, men avoided prostate cancer screening because of stigma and fear, but what we are witnessing here shows that awareness is taking root and cultural barriers are gradually being broken,” said Muthoni.
She emphasised that early detection remains the most effective weapon against cancer, which continues to pose a major public health challenge in Kenya. The PS revealed that more than 6,000 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer annually, with an estimated 3,500 deaths recorded each year, largely due to late diagnosis.
“We must stop losing lives because cancer is detected too late. When identified early, cancer is treatable and manageable. That is the message we are taking to every community,” she said.
Lifesaver
Muthoni urged parents and guardians to ensure girls below the age of 14 receive the HPV vaccine, describing vaccination as a proven and powerful tool in preventing cervical cancer. She noted that the vaccination programme is ongoing in schools nationwide.
“Vaccination saves lives. Parents must take responsibility and ensure their daughters are fully protected,” she added.
The PS further stated that the government is working towards ensuring that at least 90 per cent of cancer patients have access to treatment. To achieve this, the national government is collaborating with county governments to equip public hospitals with modern diagnostic and treatment facilities, reducing the need for patients to travel long distances for specialised care.
She disclosed that the Social Health Authority (SHA) has allocated Ksh800,000 for cancer treatment to ease the financial burden on patients and families battling the disease.
While encouraging Kenyans to take advantage of medical camps, Muthoni cautioned against waiting for outreach programmes to seek care, urging the public to embrace routine hospital check-ups and regular cancer screening as part of healthy living.
She also urged citizens to use Community Health Promoters (CHPs), noting that they are trained to provide basic health services and referrals at the household level.
Muthoni further raised concern over the growing misuse of drugs purchased over the counter without prescriptions, warning that pharmacies engaging in the illegal practice will face strict enforcement.
“This dangerous trend has resulted in many avoidable deaths and must be stopped,” she said.
On policy reforms, the PS noted that the Quality of Care and Patient Bill currently before the National Assembly seeks to strengthen patient rights and improve service delivery across health facilities.
She reaffirmed the government’s commitment to expanding cancer awareness, screening, and treatment programmes nationwide, saying similar medical camps will continue to be rolled out to ensure no Kenyan is left behind.