Cancer foundation takes cancer fight to rural schools

PIC: Ikara, the programme co-ordinator of Uganda Child Cancer Foundation engaging students of St. Daniel Comboni SS in Napak district on different ways of avoiding cancer. (Credit: Geoffrey Mutegeki)

HEALTH

FIGHTING CANCER- The Uganda Child Cancer Foundation has taken the fight against cancer to upcountry schools in a bid to reach a bigger audience.


According to the foundation's co-ordinator, Ben Ikara, the Government had mostly concentrated on urban centres, leaving the rural folk at risk. 

So far, 13 secondary schools in different districts in the eastern and northern regions have been reached. These include Teso College Aloet, St. Elizabeth Kidetok Serere, Moroto High School, St. Daniel Combon Matany, Kangole Girls School Napak and Lira Skyland High school.

Other schools reached include Secret Heart SS, Gulu High School, Gulu Army SS, Ocer Memorial Jesuit College, St. Mary's Lacor, St. Joseph's College Layibi and Gulu SS.

"We have managed to reach out to over 15,000 students and we expect each student to reach out to a minimum of 10 people in their respective communities," Ikara told New Vision on Monday.

He said the young generation would understand the message faster and spread it easily to their parents and neighbours.

"We have also introduced 3C clubs in different schools which stands for Children Caring about Cancer. These children are the leaders of tomorrow and we need to build their capacity in fighting against cancer," he added.

"Our research shows that many people die of cancer because they lack information about how they can protect themselves from it," said Ikara.

The foundation works together with the Uganda Cancer Institute (UCI).

Dr James Kafeero from UCI advised people to always go for cancer screening each year.

"Cancer is among the top killer diseases in the world if detected late. Let us do screening for breast, cervical and other types of cancers," he said. 

As of January last year, UCI was treating about 40,000 cancer patients. Between 2015 and 2016, UCI registered 4,000 new cases. 1,500 of the new patients succumbed to the disease.