RSS First Lady in Kenya to attend Cervical, Breast and Prostate Concer Conference:

Nairobi, 20^th July 2015: With Participation of the Republic of South Sudan First Lady H.E. Mary Ayen Mayardit and the speaker of the Council of States Rt Hon Joseph Bol Chan, the three-day 9^th stop Cervical, Breast & Prostate Cancer in Africa Conference (SCCA) kicked off today on Monday 20^th July 2015, at Kenyatta International Convention Center (KICC) in Nairobi Kenya , Under the theme “Investing to save lives: The role of Public and Private Sector Partnership”.

The Conference was organized by the office of the Republic of Kenya First lady H. E. Margret Kenyatta, with the support of Kenyan Government and in conjunction with Princess Nikky Breast Cancer Foundation, with objective to build and promote partnership and collaborations in cancer control for better health care in Africa.

The Conference brought together First Ladies, Parliamentarians, Ministers of Heath, health professionals and other relevant stakeholders with the aim of promoting cancer prevention, early detection, improved diagnosis and treatment including palliative care.

The opening session of the Conference was addressed by the Kenyan President H.E. Uhuru Kenyatta who declared Cervical, Breast and Prostate Cancer as a real public health problem in the continent which need collective efforts to address it. Kenyan first lady in her speech called on all Africans and the first ladies to joint hands in fighting cancer in Africa.

It is estimated that cancer kills over 8 million people globally every year, constituting about 13% of the total deaths worldwide. 70% of cancer deaths occur in low and middle income countries, majority of which are in Africa.

H.E. Mary Ayen Mayardit and the accompanied delegation in the sidelines of the Conference joined her African counter-parts in a welcome cocktail last night hosted by Kenyan Cabinet Secretary of Health Mr. James Macharia, at Intercontinental Hotel in Nairobi. The welcome cocktail was also attended by Princess Nikky Onyeri, the Co- Founder and Director General for Forum of African First Ladies against Cervical, Breast and Prostate Cancer and Co- Founder of World Forum of First Ladies and women leaders. Parliamentarians, Some African Health Ministers, health professionals, partners and members of Diplomatic corps in Kenya also took part in welcome cocktail.

By/ Thomas Kenneth/ 21-7-2015