People who complete their entire course of breast cancer treatment have a higher chance of survival. Recent studies show that cancer patients in Kenya spend between KES 100,000 and KES 6 million for treatment, with the average expenditure on cancer treatment being about KES 1.5 million per year. The high costs of treatment and management deter patients from seeking treatment or result in discontinuation of treatment which is often associated with catastrophic results, not only on the patient's health but also on family income.
While the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) provides medical cover for all population segments for a monthly subscription fee, financing is partial and often exposes patients to high out-of-pocket expenses. Furthermore, not all people know this medical cover's existence.
No patient should have to choose between their cancer treatment and putting food on the table. For this reason, the Promise Me initiative is designed to shield patients seeking breast cancer treatment from incurring out-of-pocket expenses. This initiative provides health education to marginalized communities across Kenya.
