Survivors of Colorectal Cancer attending Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital have formed a support group.

The members drawn from across the country including; Thika, Nairobi, Western Kenya, South Rift and Nyanza elected officials during their pioneer meeting held at Hospital grounds on August 5, 2012.

They said that the challenges afflicting them are varied ranging from financial, family life to lack of psycho-social support.

“There are various kinds of tests and investigations one is required to undertake which not only take much time and money but also results in emotional exhaustion,” said one of the survivors.

While making a presentation on support groups, an official of one of the support groups at the Academic Model Providing Access to Healthcare (AMPATH), Ms. Claris Ojwang challenged the survivors to the group saying that in such forums personal problems receive practical solutions from persons afflicted by the same.

She went on to say that, through groups, role models are shaped besides providing a platform for sharing personal experiences.

“Groups are platforms for empowerment. It is also where people bring up all their hidden and personal concerns and issues but you must guard against manipulation by persons with vested interest in the group,” she said.

Speaking at the same function, Dr. Fredrick Chite, a Co-Director of Hemato-Oncology Department promised to link the support group to similar associations in Australia and United States of America (USA) for networking purposes.

The meeting organized by Mr. Peter Kamau, an Oncology Nurse at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital was also attended by Dr. David Lugaria, a Surgeon at the Hospital and Nurses from the Oncology and other departments.