Rotary Club of Akright City mobilizes community against cancer
Rotarian Dr Naphtali Muhumuza said they have arranged a program every last Saturday of the month where the club supports campaigns for the immunization of children against killer diseases such as hepatitis B, yellow fever, pneumonia, and influenza.
Pearl Akahindi Habomugisha, the president of the Rotary Club of Akright City in Wakiso district has urged Ugandans to support awareness campaigns against cancer.
The club has also embarked on efforts to back the government's immunization campaigns targeting children in vulnerable communities.
The club held a walk on Saturday, July 27, to raise awareness about the disease. The proceeds from the event were used to enroll participants for the national Rotary Cancer Run 2024 set for August 25, this year.
The walk took place from Akright gate to Palm Valley Golf Course in Akright City. The activity included an aerobics session.
Rotarian Dr Patrick Kerchan the chief walker said that as the cases of cancer are increasing in Uganda many people do not know the risk factors. “Managing cancer needs prevention because treating the disease is costly. The disease, if detected early, can be healed,” he explained.
Kerchan said that some doctors have a low index of suspicion of the disease and fail to detect the disease early enough. “In medicine, we should have a high index of suspicion.”
He called for passing the National Health Insurance Bill that will enable people who are affected by the disease to get free treatment. He cited Kenya where cancer patients are getting free treatment under their national health insurance scheme.
Rotarian Dr Charles Kanyesigye the chairman of the Cancer Run Rotary Club of Akright City said that they are mobilising people to participate in the forthcoming cancer run.
Kanyesigye who is also the principal of Nsamizi Training Institute in Mpigi district, observed that cancer cases are increasing in Uganda because of factors relating to changes in the environment, and bad lifestyle.
“People are sitting a lot, eating a lot, breathing fumes and there is low awareness about the disease,” Kanyesigye explained. In Uganda, 35,968 new cancer cases were registered and 24,629 deaths occurred in 2022 according to the World Health Organisation.
The Rotary Cancer Run started in 2012. Proceeds from the first three runs constructed the Rotary Centenary Bank Cancer Centre at Nsambya. While the sh200m from the 2015 run constructed the Rotary Blood Bank at Mengo Hospital.
Funds raised from the runs between 2016 to 2021 were used for phase one of the construction of the bunkers at Nsambya Hospital to host radiotherapy treatment facilities.
Rotarian Dr Naphtali Muhumuza said they have arranged a program every last Saturday of the month where the club supports campaigns for the immunization of children against killer diseases such as hepatitis B, yellow fever, pneumonia, and influenza.
This takes place in two health centers in Mpigi district that are close to communities.
During the exercise children are dewormed and given Vitamin A to boost their immunity.
Rotarian Anthony Tenywa, vice president of the Rotary Club of Akright City said the immunization is free. The club brings the services closer to communities and creates incentives like buying sweet bananas, and sweets for the children.
Tenywa said that families in deprived communities find it difficult to take their children to distant health centers for immunization and medical care. He said supporting the immunization campaigns helps the government meet its health targets.
