Let's work to restore health sector

By Davies Rwabu

At the very last minute, there was hope for the former news anchor, Rose Mary Nankabirwa as to have a last ditch attempt to save her life.

The same had happened of Bbaale Francis. He passed on the day the fundrising drive had begun. Everyone believed in the possibility of saving their lives from cancer.

For Rose Mary her suave journalist friends created a hash tag #HelpRosemary on twitter and mobilised funds to take her to Nairobi hospital. Such efforts must be commended albeit so late. But all is not lost I would presume.

This should be the beginning of social action. May be it could be the start of a hunger for social engagement in the health sector.

Perhaps a desire to confront some of the paradoxes of life especially with a sickening health sector where the responsible actors seem overwhelmed and burdened by the increasing incidence of disease.

Retorting that our health sector is on life support is not enough. This is a story that has lost relevance in our current debate.

As we mourn the passing on of  Rose Mary Nankabirwa and Bbale Francis in a very short spell of less than two weeks and having succumbed to different cancers. We should reflect on what we can do to restore hope for our health sector.

The death of these two media icons has shown that as individuals we can contribute enormously to our wellbeing. In less than a week, the #HelpRosemary campaign had generated more than Uganda shillings 100 million.

One day’s car wash at Serena Hotel grossed over Uganda Shillings 70 million for the cause.

The cure of a sickening ailing sector can be mitigated by our own selves if we rally support of the media, socialites, business persons, and a number of people in the middle class who enjoy twitter, face book and who can easily be mobilized by social media in addition to the use of main stream media.

We must also realize that cancer kills and is on the increase.  Reports from Cancer Institute at the National Referral Hospital, Mulago indicate that cancer patients have shot up from 1200 to 2800.

Of these, over 60% of the patients present advanced cases of the diseases. This should be a concern for worry among other things. Cancer does not discriminate. Doctors, Lawyers, Bankers, teachers, business people and everyone else are at risk.

According to the World Health Organization, the most common risk factors for cancer include aging, tobacco, sun exposure, radiation exposure, chemicals and other substances, some viruses and bacteria, certain hormones, family history of cancer, alcohol, poor diet, lack of physical activity, or being overweight. We are all at risk.

The private sector institutions such as the media, business enterprises and private individuals should support social causes that will give a changing face to our health sector. 

Credible social media mobilization can help prioritize some of these causes and the public will react in the affirmative. Let us take advantage of show biz where car washes, goat races, run for life or fistula run initiatives provide a bit of merry making and worthwhile socialization opportunities for people to engage and feel comfortable giving lots of sums of money.

People love to be seen giving or supporting a worthwhile cause while having fun and merry making. It is a fact. It is the cancer that we cannot ignore. We should tap into it. We must also fight the cancer of giving too late to a worthwhile cause. Rest in Peace Bbaale Francis and Rose Mary Nankabirwa.

The writer lectures communication skills at Makerere University