Cancer is real
Mmegi Editor | Wednesday September 7, 2016 11:16
According to the organisers, the objective of the symposium is to take stock of Botswana’s current prevention and control activities, review key challenges and identify solutions and priorities going forward.
Through the symposium, it is anticipated that participants will identify innovative solutions building on local and international evidence, build consensus around cancer control planning, and strengthen coordination implementation of identified priority activities.
From the symposium we learnt that there is significant cancer burden, including in Botswana. Each year, cancer claims over eight million lives worldwide and in Botswana, approximately 1,200 new cancers are diagnosed every year. Countless die, with the majority having being diagnosed late.
This is because of limited awareness on the part of patients on cancer and cancer risk factors, weakened social structures and individual empowerment, limited skills and knowledge of clinical personnel, and inconsistent supply of medicines and reagents.
We also learnt that 72% of cancer deaths occur in low and middle-income countries. Despite the number of new cancers diagnosed in Botswana, the country has made some progress in addressing this dreaded disease.
One of the notable achievements made is the national cervical cancer control program, which uses a multi-pronged approach to reduce cervical cancer.
As we might all know cervical cancer is a leading type of cancer among women.
We must not forget to thank Botswana’s partners in this fight.
Special thanks go to United States of America and institutions. Without their support we could be talking a different story.
We should remind our people to visit health posts to screen for this disease before it is too late. Most of Batswana do not believe in checking for diseases until it is too late. Some of the preventable diseases end up killing our people prematurely because we lack the culture of prevention.
We hope this symposium will come up with strategies to defeat cancer once and for all. This disease and others should never claim precious lives in this country or elsewhere.
In order to do that we must start at the family level and encourage our relatives to always test for this disease.
Today’s thought
“Together, systematically, innovatively, let us fight cancer and realize 50 more years of continued growth, health and prosperity for Botswana.”
- Shenaaz El-Halabi