Pastor Dorcas raises alarm over increased use of tobacco in Laikipia

Speaking when she launched a 2-day medical camp in Rumuruti Stadium, Laikipia County Pastor Dorcas said many tobacco users are at risk 

“In Kenya 1% of women use tobacco, here in Laikipia 2% of women use tobacco. For men, 13% use tobacco in Kenya, here in Laikipia 17 % of men use tobacco. 

When you look at it, we are starting to lose our men and women to cancer, and therefore we are asking we start to change so that we do not lose a population to tobacco. “She said.

The 2-day free medical camp is targeted at the boy-child addicted to alcoholism, drugs, and substance abuse and the community at large.

Laikipia Governor Joshua Irungu promised to ensure the boys and men who successfully undergo the rehabilitation program are involved in job opportunities from the county government, sentiments that were echoed by the County MP Jane Kagiri.

Pastor Dorcas also raised concerns over cases of teen pregnancies in the county of Laikipia 

“About 9% of our girls aged between 15 and 19  have had cases of teenage pregnancies here, and therefore the statistics indicate that we need to address this matter because it is getting out of hand. We have built a maternity facility but that facility should be for our teens. “She said.

Last week Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua commissioned a maternity wing at the Nyahururu Referral Hospital in Laikipia County.