Regional cancer centres to get PET scans as govt expands care
Muvawala said the $65 million (about sh245 billion) machines are expected in the country within the next three months.
Some of the runners during a physical fitness exercise after participating in a 5km and 10km race organised by the Rotary Club of Jinja at the Health First gym in Jinja town on Sunday. (Photos by Jackie Nambogga)
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The Government has procured Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scan machines to help hundreds of cancer patients access specialised diagnostic services locally instead of travelling abroad, National Planning Authority (NPA) executive director Dr Joseph Muvawala has said.
Muvawala said the $65 million (about sh245 billion) machines are expected in the country within the next three months.
National Planning Authority (NPA) executive director Dr Joseph Muvawala flagging off the 2000 cancer runners
He made the remarks during a cancer run organised by the Rotary Club of Jinja at Health First Gym in Jinja city on Sunday (August 30).
Muvawala said PET scan services were only available in countries including Kenya, Egypt, South Africa and India, which many Ugandans could not afford to travel to for treatment and diagnosis.
A PET scan is a large, ring-shaped medical imaging device used to detect cellular activity and diagnose diseases such as cancer.
Muvawala, who is also the Busoga kingdom premier, said the investment would help doctors determine the actual stage of cancer.
“This will give actual results of the various stages of cancer rather than the current results, which at times mismatch. At times, results indicate that one has stage one cancer when they are at stage four, but with PET, one will be in a position to know their status, whether they have it or not and at what stage,” he said.
The Premier, who said he has three cancer patients in his family, including his spouse, elder sister and younger brother, said the cost of PET services had drained him financially.
He explained that Uganda's disease profile was changing rapidly, with non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including cancer, taking centre stage despite the high cost of treatment, which he said was leaving families impoverished.
“NCDs are taking over; they are very expensive and rendering families poor. By the time one dies, you don’t have resources even for burial; they are not caused by poverty, but they are of lifestyles and diet,” he said.
Since Busoga is among the regions with a high burden of cancer, Muvawala called for early prostate cancer screening among men above 45 years and urged women to test for breast and cervical cancer, which he said remain the most common.
“For me, I am very sure the probability of having cancer is 90%, so I must prepare myself early, and I want you also to think about it and do your part. Early screening is essential,” he urged.
Muvawala also said the Government had approved borrowing of more than $75m to establish regional cancer centres in Gulu, Mbarara, Arua and Mbale.
He said the centres would be equipped with PET scans, chemotherapy and radiotherapy facilities, while bone marrow transplants would remain at Mulago National Referral Hospital.
He said the centres would be equipped to a high standard, with similar equipment to serve members of the public.
Muvawala commended the sponsors of the cancer run, led by Centenary Bank, the main sponsor, and Parliament of Uganda for contributing sh3b towards this year's fundraising target.
He said the organisers wanted to ensure that all the cancer treatment bunkers at St Francis Hospital Nsambya are completed next year before shifting their focus to regional centres and other facilities.
Lilian Nagujja, a banker with Centenary Bank's Jinja branch, said the bank had been at the forefront of sponsoring the cancer run for the past 16 years, a commitment she said reflected its belief that strong communities were built on healthy people.
As an institution, she said the bank could not turn a blind eye to the cause as cancer continued to affect thousands of Ugandans directly and indirectly.
“Today’s run is a reminder that we all have a role to play by supporting cancer prevention by adopting healthy lifestyles, encouraging regular screening and early diagnosis, supporting families affected by cancer and continuing to invest in facilities and services that improve access to treatment,” she noted.
Meanwhile, Rotary Club of Jinja president Drake Balikoowa Magara said this year's target was sh10 billion countrywide and that Parliament of Uganda had contributed sh3b towards the establishment of a cancer centre at St Francis Hospital Nsambya.
He said fighting cancer was everyone's responsibility and commended the 2,000 runners who joined the campaign.
Magara said the Rotary Club's strategy for preventing the disease included conducting awareness campaigns in schools, religious institutions and public gatherings.
Aaron Walugembe and Agnes Aneno won the 5km men's and women's races, respectively, while Nathan Omusugu and Rachael Mwesigwa won the 10km races.