Ugandans Urged to Go For Regular Cancer Screening
By Adiga Julius
The Uganda Cancer Institute has urged
Ugandans to always go for regular screening for cancers in order to facilitate early
detection and treatment.
The spokesperson of the Institute
Christine Namulindwa says the number of new cancer patients registered by the
institute every year has increased from 3000 cases a year to 5000 which is
worrying.
“Majority of new patients we get
are diagnosed with cancers in developed stages” Namulindwa noted.
She has also urged Ugandans to
avoid risky behavior that exposes them to cancers such as lack of body exercise
and eating fast foods. She further explained that the more one consumes fast
foods, the more they become poisonous to the body. She said the environmental
hazards are also another factor.
She also attributed the spread of
cancer to family history where one of the family members could have suffered
from cancer leading to cancer in off-springs, as well as aging; as one grows
older cases of cancers emerge.
Namulidwa urged the public to
take advantage of the free screening clinic at the Cancer Institute which runs
from Monday to Friday.
She said the Institute has teams
that goes into communities to educate Ugandans about cancers, and majority find
out to be patients without their knowledge.
“So it is a strategy that we use
as Cancer Institute to make sure many people are empowered with knowledge about
risk factors of cancer” Namulinduwa explained.
She also disputed allegations
that the recent acquired radiotherapy machine has broken down saying the
machine is currently undergoing routine maintenance service.
“That’s why when it was put off
for service; we put out notices to patients to inform them about this routine
maintenance she noted.
She said before the machine is
put on service the institute makes sure all emergencies are worked on
and the reason for service is obviously to make sure it is working properly.