High cases of cancer in Gulu worry area MP
Hon. Aol Betty Ocan (C) with UNCDA chief executive officer Constance KeKihembo (R) and Mr Aike Mike, the president Uganda Heart Research Foundation (L) during the the training in Gulu. Photo by Joseph Kiggundu
What you need to know:
She said they are working with Uganda Non Communicable Diseases Alliance (UNCDA) to screen people in the region to help them know their status and where to go for treatment.
Gulu- Gulu District Woman MP Hon. Betty Aol Ocan has asked the government to buy a cancer screening machine for Gulu Hospital, following the increasing number of cases in the district.
“Gulu Hospital is in bad state because it lacks medical equipment like the cancer screening machine. Since I seat on the Health committee of Parliament, I have asked committee members to help and include Gulu Hospital on the list of hospitals that urgently need such a machine,” Ms Ocan said.
She said they are working with Uganda Non Communicable Diseases Alliance (UNCDA) to screen people in the region to help them know their status and where to go for treatment.
This was during the UNCDA training for medical and local council officers at Bardege Health Centre in Gulu.
She said there are rising cases of non-communicable diseases like cancer and diabetes in the region.
The head of UNCDA Constance Keihembo said the organisation recruited over 45 volunteers in the district to help in the fight against non-communicable diseases in Gulu.
“Their roles will be for screening people and inform them whether they are affected with cancer, diabetes and heart diseases and direct them where to find treatment,” Ms Kekihembo said.
Mr Mike Aike, the president Uganda Heart Research Foundation urged patients who are living with NCDs to form peer to peer support groups for purposes of providing mutual support to each other.
[email protected]
