List of Nairobi roads to be closed on Sunday for Cancer Walk
Motorists in Nairobi have been cautioned to be on alert for traffic disruptions along various roads within the city on Sunday, March 17, 2024.
According to a notice published in the local dailies, the Southern Bypass- Langata Road- Aerodrome Road- Bunyala Road- Lower Hill Road- Elgon Road- Hospital Road- Upper Hill Links Road- Mbagathi Way will be temporarily closed to allow for the Annual the Gertrude’s Family Cancer Walk.
The said routes will be closed between 7am and 12pm on Sunday.
“Motorists are advised to use alternative routes to avoid any inconveniences. Traffic police will be on site to enable smooth flow of traffic,” reads the notice in part.
Speaking about the event, Gertrude’s Children’s Hospital CEO Robert Nyarango called on the public to participate to raise awareness and the much-needed funds to support the initiative.
He further said this initiative will help to lower cases of preventable cancer deaths in children.
“Thousands of children are fighting cancer each year, yet many of them are unable to access diagnosis and therefore are not treated,” Nyarango said.
“In 2023, our Cancer Program helped more than 40 children access treatment at no cost to their families.”
“With the help of participants this year, we aim to raise more funds to expand the programme and reach over 1,000 children suffering from treatable cancers across the country.”
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), cancer is a leading cause of death among children and adolescents globally.
WHO estimates that children in low and middle-income countries such as Kenya only have a survival chance of 30 per cent, a stark contrast to the 80 per cent recovery rate in higher-income countries.
Gertrude’s Children’s Hospital first held the cancer walk in 2019 and took a two-year break at the height of the Covid pandemic to resume in 2023.
The walk is set to begin at Uhuru Gardens, Lang’ata and will provide two options, a 13-kilometer long circuit for adults and teenagers and a shorter 5-kilometre path for younger children.
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