Shikuku in hospital with prostate cancer

Written By:PMPS,    Posted: Mon, May 14, 2012

Mr. Shikuku is a former MP for Butere Prime Minister Raila Odinga Monday visited veteran politician Martin Shikuku who is hospitalized at the Texas cancer centre in Nairobi's Hurlingham area. The PM wished Mr. Shikuku a former MP for Butere quick recovery and said the government will pay the hospital bill of the liberation hero. Mr Shikuku is being treated for cancer of the prostate. Mr. Shikuku lamented the high cost of treatment saying tests, including X-ray examinations are beyond reach even before the real treatment begins. Dr. Odinga advocated for an all inclusive medical cover that can take of all Kenyans to ease the suffering of many who can ill afford good medical treatment. Noting that those who can afford to pay should pay while those who can't afford should still be treated, the PM pointed out that such a scheme will benefit a majority of Kenyans in the lower segment of the society. "Only a universal health insurance scheme will help the poor in this country. Without that, we are staring at a monumental crisis. In the all inclusive medical cover people would contribute proportionately to their incomes. It is a form of redistribution that our people really deserve," the PM said. Mr. Shikuku who chatted with the PM for nearly an hour looked lively, but advised all males of the age of 40 years and above to have an annual examination of prostate cancer saying with the change of lifestyles the disease was affecting many young people in the country.