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BUIKWE - Hundreds of Patients from different villages in Lugazi municipality, Njeru municipality, Buikwe south constituency, Kayunga district and Mukono have turned up for cancer screening at Mehta stadium in Lugazi central division.

The turn-up on the weekend came during the two-day health and medical camp organised by the Mehta group and the Women Indian association of Uganda who have provided free treatment, medicine, tests, counselling and sensitising the communities about the different illnesses affecting the people.

Falguni Partel, the chairperson of the Indian Women Association of Uganda, said the health and medical camp in Lugazi town mostly focused on prostate cancer in men, breast cancer and cancer of the cervix in women since, according to their research and that of the Uganda Cancer Institute in Mulago, cancer cases are ever increasing and it is the reason they came up with the initiative of cancer screening, testing, treatment and sensitisation about cancer.

She explained that many people in their localities do not bother to do the cancer testing and only arise when the disease is at critical stages.

Ignorant about cancer

Anil K.Sham, the chief executive officer of the Sugar Corporation of Uganda Ltd (SCOUL), said most of the workers they have in both the factory and in the communities are not aware of the problems of cancer of the cervix and how they can overcome it and that it is one of the reasons they partnered with Indian Women Association of Uganda.

He added that the medical camp is also going to raise awareness of cancer and other illnesses among the people in the greater Mukono districts of Mukono, Kayunga, Buikwe and Buvuma.

Several other health services have also been handled and these include HIV testing and counselling, dental checkups, blood pressure issues and medication, and treatment of different illnesses.

Several people including students embraced the programme and these mostly engaged in blood donation.

Sharon Ayikoru, an S6 student, said she donated blood due to the many patients who are in different health facilities who are stranded and suffering due to lack of blood.

Matia Bwanika, a 70-year-old resident of Kikawula village, commended the organisers for extending the medical camp in their area and confirmed that he got the whole treatment of his broken leg without writing him any medicine that he should buy.

Lutajjani Kemisi, the Lugazi central division chairperson asked the Government to build cancer clinics in all districts in the country and he revealed that the perseverance is high.