Former commercial sex worker seeks help to undergo cancer treatment

A 42-year-old former commercial sex worker in Embu is appealing for help from well wishers to raise money for cancer treatment.

Margarete Njoki Njiru, a resident of Kangaru village, says she needs to raise Ksh 360,000 to enable her undergo surgery to remove a cancerous lump on her left armpit.

Njoki was diagnosed with the condition in January this year after years of ignoring the lump.

She says after the diagnosis, the disease which is now spreading to the left side of her chest, has led to a complete change of her lifestyle.

She abandoned the commercial sex after being counseled by officers from a non-governmental organization in the area.

“It has been very difficult for me since I have six children who look up to me. I am in constant pain and I cannot do much work,” she said.

The mother of six is afraid that her children might soon be spending their nights in the cold since she cannot raise her house rent and at the same time cater for her medical bills.

The ‘mama mboga’ business Njoki set up has not yielded much for her.

The fact that she is required to undergo chemotherapy, she says is tempting her to go back to her old days of commercial sex.

“I underwent two chemotherapy sessions, each costing Ksh 20,000 at Kenyatta National Hospital. The money was contributed by church members,” she said.

Njoki underwent her second chemotherapy session in August and had to stop due to lack of funds.

Since then, her condition has been deteriorating with her doctors saying she now has to undergo surgery to save her life.

Silas Kariuki, the coordinator of Most At Risk Population (MARPS) Network in Embu, says Njoki is a beneficiary of their rehabilitation programme and is in need of urgent help.

Kariuki adds that MARPS Network seeks to rehabilitate commercial sex workers, but observes that a majority find it hard to lead normal lives and eventually revert to the business.