News
Monday, February 03, 2014
Pay more attention to cancer
KAMPALA, UGANDA - As Uganda joins the rest of the world to commemorate the World Cancer, 4th February 2014, it is necessary to note that there is need to reflect on ourselves on what we know and what we have done to fight cancer.
World Cancer Day was first organized by the International Union against Cancer in 2005 and like last year, this year’s theme rotates around reducing stigma and dispelling myths about cancer, under the tagline “Debunk the myths”.
There are many myths out there which in turn are misleading the masses.
Despite the gruesome facts before us that cancerous infections are now the leading causes of death in Uganda, the apathetic response with which Ugandans have responded to the alarm calls to this grave danger necessitates a multifaceted approach in the fight against cancer before the already bad situation degenerates to the worst.
At the moment, it is like one has to first either be affected directly or lose a dear one before they can think of cancer as a real threat to their life.
Besides that, very few Ugandans bother to take interest in what cancer is, their cause, the symptoms, prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and care for cancer patients because it is simply not their thing.
The cancer myths are strongly grounded in the minds of the majority of Ugandans to the extent that most of the information and evidence being availed just lands on deaf ears.
Just last two weeks ago East Africa lost a high profile journalist, Kenya’s Jerry Okungu, who succumbed to prostate cancer.
When you tell Ugandans that HIV/Aids kills, the majority will respond with the necessary precautions, either by abstaining, being faithful or using condoms.
When you tell the same Ugandans that cancer kills, the response is the opposite, it is just the very few affected ones that will take interest in taking the precautions.
Time and again we have encouraged Ugandans to go for screening at the earliest opportunity but very few see any sense in it.
Cancer stories have been running in the media but still Ugandans are smoking their way to death on Shisha and cigarettes, cooking their food in buvera, abandoning organic foods for junk, boozing day in and out and advocating for GMOs to be introduced.
As long as we do not conquer the minds of Ugandans and impart it into them that cancer is real and a threat to life, all the investments undertaken by the various players in the cancer fight will continue having a minimal impact.
On top of investing in scientific research and treatment, the psychological factors in adopting the cancer fight strategies in Uganda need attention as well.
Our strategy at Cancer Information Service of Uganda is to take the fight to learning institutions and work places as a starting point.
We believe that having students on board in the cancer fight at this early stage will play a big role in reducing ignorance about cancer. We believe that the earlier the better.
We are also engaging religious leaders, political leaders, celebrities, athletes and other stakeholders appealing them to come on board in this much needed sensitization drive.
If high profile personalities like President Yoweri Museveni, Dr Kizza Besigye, Prof Gilbert Bukenya, Olara Otunnu, and Member of Parliament gave enough attention to cancer we believe there would a much bigger positive yield. Cancer Information Service of Uganda despite all the financial and manpower challenges that they cope with, continue and will go ahead to offer their best to fight cancer in the country.
Our humble appeal to the public is that let’s change the way we live our lives, let us test for cancer and let’s encourage and avert stigma by offering moral support. We know it’s a long battle ahead of us but together we can tackle cancer in Uganda.
Sam Jumbwike is the executive director Cancer Information Service of Uganda
By Sam Jumbwike, Monday, February 03rd, 2014