Cancer, according to leading medical researchers, LIVESTRONG Foundation, UICC, ICCCPO and others, is one of the leading causes of illness and death worldwide, and its global burden predicted to rise from 12.7 million new cases in 2008 to 21.4 million in 2030, with more than half of these occurring in less developed regions.
But Sierra Leone will not bow down to cancer, and we are confident that the Government, after approving the Non Communicable Diseases (NCDs) policy last year in 2013 will prioritize cancer in all health decision. The United Nations General Assembly, In September 2011, declared Non-Communicable Diseases, including cancer, a social and economic challenge, especially in low- and middle-income countries.
In Sierra Leone, recent figures from the National Cancer Registry are giving credence to the UN’s call for action against cancer; with the Director of the National Cancer Registry (NCR), Dr. Semion Owizz Koroma, informing the nation that cancer is in the increase and that efforts must now be made to control the spates nationwide. But that could be successfully done when the people are well informed and the Registry capacitated to effectively carry out its functions.
“Gathering data to fully understand a problem can be a critical step on the path toward a remedy. Yet, in many parts of the world, accurate assessments of the burden of cancer and the distribution of its various types are unavailable or inaccurate,” NCI Director Dr. Harold Varmus and Cancer Research UK Chief Executive Dr. Harpal Kumar wrote in a March 6, 2013, commentary in Science Translational Medicine.
As indicated by Dr. Harold Varmus and Dr. Harpal Kumar of the unavailable or inaccurate data, Sierra Leone is one of the many countries falling prey to this problem until now that Dr. Semion Owizz Koroma and his staff, are championing the cause to map-out the various cancer ailments affecting the people bases on tribe and region.
Common types of cancer: Bladder Cancer, Breast Cancer, Colon and Rectal Cancer, Endometrial Cancer, Kidney (Renal Cell) Cancer, Leukemia, Lung Cancer, Melanoma, Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma, Pancreatic Cancer, Prostate Cancer, Thyroid Cancer, Childhood Cancers, Adolescents and Young Adults and Women's Cancers, are all affecting Sierra Leoneans and causing social and economic challenges.
For most of the elderly who have succumbed to various forms of diseases with their underlying ailments never disclosed but yet their complaints often been ‘poor digestion and constipation’ resulting to stomach problems, which unfortunately are often offhandedly linked to old age, are later found to be causes of Colon Cancer.
But then our medical practitioners could not be held responsible because they lack the needed medical implements to aid them carryout their work well. This is what is faced by our new baby; the National Cancer registry (NCR), as the entities presently needs an Electronic Microscope and Microtone to be able to get accurate and reliable data. Last year, Well Woman Clinic Director, Dr. Lynette Palmer, informed Members of Parliament that cancer is a preventable disease, while noting that cancer can affect any part of the body and women suffering more from the ailment than men.
She said lack of adequate diagnostic screening machines, high cost of screening and diagnostics tools, high level of illiteracy and low awareness are some of the challenges that they are facing in the fight against breast cancer in Sierra Leone. Hon. Pateh Bah of Constituency 91 said it is sad the country doesn’t have most of the equipment to treat the disease, but said efforts should be made to procure the equipment. And the founder of Thinking Pink Foundation, Mrs. Cremela Parkinson-Pratt, has emphasized that February 4th is a very important day all around the world; while Mr. Reynolds G.B Senesie, a cancer pathologist in Sierra Leone, said February 4th is to raise awareness about the dangers and effects of cancer.
Considering the challenges and level of illiteracy in the country, the Ministry of Health, international cancer stakeholders and cancer stakeholders in Sierra Leone will not sit by and allow Sierra Leone to fall to cancer. Sierra Leone cannot bow down to cancer and thus the theme for this year “Debunking the Cancer Myths”.
We want to see a Sierra Leone where children can get access to cancer screening, affordable and accessible medical attention and our people made no more to be frightened from tumors such as ‘Mopia’ as being called in the North of the country. It will be an irony when childhood cancer continues to be a menace with mothers hoping their Under-5s will get medical care, because the drugs are not available.
We can however help change the course by working together and ensure every Sierra Leonean is made to know the dangers of cancer and its causative factors. In so doing, we would be able to save many lives that would have been exposed to cancer ailments; thus the reason for targeting the grassroots in this year’s campaign on the theme ‘Debunking the Cancer Myths’.
Sierra Leone is no island by itself and should therefore be part of the campaign against cancer in the world and strive to standout among others to champion the fight. We can do that and be recognised worldwide by putting into effect remedial measures, through policies, to mitigate all forms of activities that are prone to cause or exposing our people to cancer.
Such efforts, like raising tax on tobacco importation in the country and all other forms of activities that are deemed to be cancer related, can be used to finance cancer research processes in the country and procurement of medicines and standard medical equipment, to save millions of Sierra Leoneans from dying early in their lives.
Dr. Semion Owizz Koroma and his team are trying but that will not solve the problem until the Government intervene to making cancer a priority in Sierra Leone and by doing so, this Nation will not bow down to cancer.
By Alpha Bedoh Kamara Leader
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