African governments asked to reduce the costs of cancer drugs, vaccines and treatment

African First Ladies will push for the reduction of prices on medicines, vaccines and technologies related to cancer.

The First Ladies said making the drugs and vaccines available and affordable is one of the sure ways to  halt and contain the dreaded cancer scourge.

The First ladies expressed their concerns over the heavy burden occasioned by the cancer burden in African , a situation made worse by the high costs of drugs that are not accessible to man y cancer victims.

Their renewed commitment to combat cancer  across  Africa was contained in  a four-point agenda released at the close of the 9th Stop Cervical, Breast and Prostrate  Cancer Conference (SCCA) that ended at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre last evening.

The three-day conference was closed by Deputy President William Ruto.

The communication dubbed the Nairobi Declaration was read by the new chair to the Forum of African First Ladies/Spouses Against Cervical, Breast and Prostrate Cancer, First Lady Margaret Kenyatta.

The First Ladies called for the development, strengthening and implementation of evidence based health policies and programs through integrated health systems.

They also underlined the need for continued but innovative public private partnerships in ensuring accelerated access to quality health services .

Such partnership, they said, should be  aimed at  promoting healthy lifestyles, prevention, early detection, treatment, care and palliative care for cervical, breast and prostate cancers in Africa.

The Nairobi declaration was signed by ten First Ladies from Africa.