Editor,It’s interesting to learn that the first National Cancer Referral Centre in Rural East Africa will be officially opened on Wednesday, 18 July.Indeed, the centre, which is housed within the premises of Butaro Hospital in northern rural Rwanda, is part of the country’s five-year national plan to introduce cancer prevention, screening and treatment.It’s very exciting news because the centre will serve as the first national cancer referral facility in rural Rwanda and East Africa. Congratulations to Dr. Agnes Binagwaho on her increasing attention to NCDs especially cancer .As a breast cancer survivor and an advocate this is encouraging news. The fact that this first centre is in the rural area translates into providing access to where it is most needed---among the poor with limited means of transportation to and from screening and treatment. My prayer is that the government and the global community will proactively support this centre so that all cancer, especially breast cancer, does not have to be a death sentence in Rwanda and in East Africa as a whole. Breast cancer survival rates for at least five years in USA is 97% compared to 37% in Sub Sahara Africa according to American Cancer societyPhilippa Kibugu-Decuir
