Inside Kenyatta National Hospital’s paediatric oncology ward, a quiet crisis unfolds daily—one the health system continues to ignore.
As children battle cancer, their mothers are fighting a parallel, invisible war.
These women are not just caregivers.
They are nurses without training, counsellors without support and breadwinners stretched beyond breaking point. A recent study lays bare this reality: the burden is crushing, the support almost non-existent.
Nearly half of caregivers report moderate strain; many face severe psychological and economic distress. Some lose jobs. Others endure emotional isolation. Most are left to navigate complex medical care alone. This is not just a personal struggle—it is a systemic failure.
Kenya’s healthcare system has outsourced care to mothers without acknowledging the cost. Hospitals rely on them, yet policy frameworks ignore them. There is no structured support, no compensation and little recognition of their role.
The consequences are dire. Burnout among caregivers compromises not only their well-being but also the quality of care children receive. When a mother breaks, the child’s fight weakens.
This must change. Paid family leave is not a luxury—it is a necessity. Flexible work arrangements, caregiver training and psychosocial support must be urgently integrated into cancer care policy.
Kenya cannot claim progress in childhood cancer treatment while neglecting those holding the system together. These mothers are not visitors in hospital wards—they are an extension of the care system.
Ignoring them is not just unjust. It is unsustainable.
“Any society that does not succeed in tapping into the energy and creativity of its youth will be left behind."
Kofi Annan
The Ghanaian diplomat and statesman who served as the seventh secretary-general of the United Nations from 1997 to 2006was born on April 8, 1938
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