300 breast cancer patients, survivors get donations
Kampala. About 345 breast cancer patients and survivors at Uganda Cancer Institute in Mulago have received physical and psycho-social support from Jubilee Insurance Company.
In an interview with Daily Monitor on Wednesday, Ms Evelyn Angeyo, the head of Human Resource at the Insurance firm, said in support of the community who are affected by cancer, they decided to rally behind the National theme: ‘Breast Cancer Awareness’ to carry out sensitisation, offer free breast cancer checks and support cancer victims and survivors.
“Our aim was to increase the sensitisation around breast cancer, screening, teaching women on how to self-examine their breast and reach out with love, support to cancer victims, patients, and survivors at the Uganda Cancer Institute with some donations,” Ms Angeyo said.
Report
According to Uganda Bureau of Standards’ report 2017 on cancer, breast cancer in Uganda is the third commonest cancer in women after cervix and Kaposi sarcoma.
The report indicates that most cases are often seen in late stages thus the outcome of treatment is inevitably unsatisfactory. The present day knowledge of this disease does not have any effective primary prevention.
Ms Margaret Okello, a Board Member of UCI, who received the donations, said such charity helps to encourage patients and survivors in their healing process.
“This gives the patients hope. However, for the survivors, it boosts their confidence and we believe they are now encouraged as they return home. We thank Jubilee but also call upon more support from other individuals,” Ms Okello said.
Survivors get hope
More than 30 breast cancer survivors received prosthetic breasts and thanked the organisation for the support they had rendered to them.
One of the cancer survivors, who preferred anonymity, said she is confident to enter her community with another “breast”.
“This breast is going to make me look like a person with both breasts and that makes me strong. I hope more people can come in to support us with such help,” she said.
Ms Angeyo said Jubilee Insurance has been involved in cooperate social responsibility initiates to impact on the shared values in society through economic development, good governance, stakeholder responsiveness and environmental improvement.
