Breast cancer awareness ‘still low’

Regional governments and development partners should increase their funding for breast cancer awareness campaigns, officials have said. Speaking at a dinner organised to raise awareness of the disease, the founder of Breast Cancer Initiative East Africa, Philippa Kibunga, said the level of awareness is still very low within the East African region. According to World Health Organisation, Sub-Saharan region has recorded an increase of 27 per cent, 30 per cent of which can be prevented by avoiding or modifying risk factors. In Rwanda 66 cases were reported in 2009, while 79 cases were recorded 2010.According to statistics from the Ministry of Health, 2011 saw the cases increase further to 103 countrywide.Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in women worldwide; one out of eight will develop breast cancer in their life time.Kibunga said there is urgent need to raise awareness, education and patient support to address the burden.“Funding for prevention and management of the disease is still very low, so we need to collaborate with governments, religious groups and academic institutions to empower (the people), create awareness and encourage early detection.”The dinner was organised as part of a month-long awareness campaign that ended with a march through the city on Sunday.The Head of the department of non-communicable diseases at the Rwanda Biomedical Centre, Dr Rosette Nahimana, said if awareness isn’t stepped up soon 50 per cent of the population is at risk of cancer and other NCDs.“Government’s focus now is on fighting cancer of all kinds and currently four hospitals are offering cancer treatment across the country.”Dr Eugene Ngoga, president, Rwanda Obstetrics and Gynecologists, said collective efforts were needed in the treatment of cancer, thus the introduction of a multidisciplinary approach to the cancer treatment.He added that people at risk should be educated and sensitised on cancer prevention and treatment.Although cancer has no exact cause, there are several risk factors that make one susceptible to cancer cells in the body, including tobacco and alcohol use, overweight/obese, low fruit and vegetable intake, physical inactivity, environmental hazards and pollution, and age.

National

Breast cancer awareness ‘still low’