Mombasa Governor Ali Hassan Joho on Friday, passionetly narrated how his mother lost her life due to cancer.
Speaking at Ziwani Primary School in Mvita Sub-county, Mombasa, the governor called on his residents to take advantage of the ongoing free Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccination exercise.
The vaccination campaign seeks to prevent cervical cancer among women.
The governor took the opportunity to explain how devastating cancer is and went on to reveal how his mother succumbed to it.
“Many can talk and joke about the issue of cancer,you have probably not seen or lost someone close to you out of cancer. Talk to us, I lost a mother out of cancer,” said the governor.
Joho also urged his residents to make use of the quarterly free screening clinics offered in public health facilities across the county by his government.
He noted that Cancer of the Cervix is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women in Kenya and added that the vaccine will boost the war against the deadly disease.
He asked residents not to politicize the vaccination and promised to lead his residents in the fight against cancer.
The vaccine which was launched nationally targets 800,000 women.
President Uhuru Kenyatta, Health Cabinet Secretary Sicily Kariuki among a host of other leaders were in attendance during the launch.