Governor Nyongo's Plea on How to Remember Bob Collymore

On Tuesday, Kisumu Governor, Anyang' Nyong'o, issued a passionate plea to Safaricom to have an Oncology Centre built in honour of the late CEO, Bob Collymore

Nyong’o, who was speaking to the press in Kisumu, further asked the telco giant to name the centre 'Bob Collymore School of Oncology.'

An oncologist is a doctor who treats cancer and provides medical care for a person diagnosed with the disease.

The Standard reported that Nyong’o wanted the centre to be built in one of the top local universities in the country, citing that the number of oncologists in the country is low, yet statistics show cancer ailments are on the rise.

''We have very few of these special doctors in the country, and that is why a lot of times, we have to seek for medication or specialised treatment abroad. It's that sad,'' Nyong’o lamented.

''Make that a school of excellence in oncology delivering expertise in cancer diagnosis, treatment and care including palliative care,'' the ODM politician asserted.

According to the governor, the centre ought to train medical physicists, cancer nurses, oncology specialists of many types of cancer, and let to collaborate with leading cancer schools elsewhere.

''Let it champion at every level of public healthcare cancer screening and diagnosis, so that this 'Emperor of all Maladies' is identified early to make treatment more feasible,'' he stated.

The governor revealed that the death of Collymore, who succumbed to cancer earlier this month, shocked him, as well as many Kenyans.

''Bob Collymore was very instrumental in activities of the Africa Cancer Foundation (ACF).

'' This was long before he himself was diagnosed with cancer. Collymore was conscious of his role as a leader in society all the time, responding to the many pressing demands,” Nyong'o detailed.

The Foundation - a charitable trust - was launched on July 12, 2011, in Nairobi, Kenya. It creates awareness on the prevention and the former Safaricom CEO was very active during its first strategic planning exercise that set the stage for its work in Kenya.

Over the last eight years, he participated in writing, including the production of cancer awareness booklets and cancer screening exercises in 18 counties.

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