Gulu Hospital asks for cancer machine

Oct 28, 2009

GULU Hospital lacks a cancer-testing machine and pathologists. Speaking on behalf of the mothers in northern Uganda, the Gulu district community development officer, Santa Oketa, said on Saturday that many people, especially women, were dying of suspected

By Dennis Ojwee

GULU Hospital lacks a cancer-testing machine and pathologists. Speaking on behalf of the mothers in northern Uganda, the Gulu district community development officer, Santa Oketa, said on Saturday that many people, especially women, were dying of suspected cases of breast cancer because there is no machine to detect the disease early.

“We appeal to the Government to install a cancer-testing machine in the hospital as this will help reduce the cases in this region,” Oketa said.

Oketa was speaking at the Gulu-Walk at which the Cancer Aid Organisation launched a national campaign against the disease.

Dr. Stephen Ayela Ataro, said at least 10 cases of suspected cancer were referred to Mulago Hospital for further screening and treatment monthly.

He said there were no resident pathologists and facilities like radiotherapy to handle the cases, adding that the nearest St. Mary’s Hospital Lacor only had a visiting pathologist.

Dr. Margaret Okello-Nyeko, who represented the Cancer Aid Organisation based in Mulago, said over 300 Ugandans die yearly from cancer.

She said 96% of the deaths were among women mostly suffering from breast cancer while the males were at four percent.

Okello-Nyeko added that the top killer cancer is Kaposi Sarcoma, which affects both sexes and is more fatal in males while cervical cancer was second and breast cancer third.

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