Second UCRF Luweero Volunteers and Artists Workshop: December 1, 2012

On the 1^st December, 2012 members of the Uganda Cancer Research Foundation held a workshop at Bukenya Foundation Motel, Luweero. The aim of this workshop was:

• To bring the two groups together that is, Luweero UCRF group and the Kampala Artists group.
• To form a uniform of UCRF volunteer advocates
• To assist members of UCRF to clearly understand what UCRF is all about especially the new ones in the Foundation
• To plan together as a team and come up with some action plans for 2013.

In total, the workshop was attended by 16 people that is; 10 artists and 6 UCRF Luweero members.

From the clinical perspective, members were assisted by Dr. Thaddeus Mutebi a UCRF Luweero members to clearly understand what cancer is, the different types of cancer, how is spreads and how to manage cancer. Members wanted also to know from the Doctor, where to take patients for medical checkup which seems to be a serious challenge and which has not been addressed yet.
Dr. Thaddeus further mentioned that cancer is such a broad issue since each body part can be affected by cancer. And in dealing with, usually, the patients fearfully and innocently present very late rendering it hard for doctors to assist them. Even then, investigation costs for cancer are so high. Here the minimum cost for a biopsy test is 50,000 Ug. Shs which is far too high for the simple people we are supporting. Yet, the private facilities around us are far too expensive for our people to manage. This is why we must ask, what can we do, asked the doctor?  Clinically and medically, cancer is one of the areas that is not fully understood that is why is one of the difficult areas to handle by medical practioners. This is why all the diseases we suffer from can easily predispose us to getting cancer.
One member also wished to know where one can go for free medication if is discovered to have cancer. One way of defining cancer therefore is that, cancer is a disease which can eat your body away. And the conventional rate for one to survive with cancer is five years. But we must emphasize one thing, to encourage our people to stay healthy simply because, a healthy body will be less prone to getting cancer.

Because cancer kills very quietly, it doesn’t create such as a public hazard. But what can we do to help people have the diagnosis done? Is it possible for UCRF at least to advocate to government and also to push such that at least at the district hospitals there can be pathologists?
Remember, cancer diagnosis itself is still a challenge both socially and financially.

During the workshop members also had a general sharing of experiences and challenges. Among the challenges highlighted was that of convincing patients to freely come out and present themselves for testing. It was clearly indicated that most patients resist voluntary testing. One Artist asked why, can’t Kampala group operate the way Luweero does?

In the workshop, members raised the challenge of identification. Hence requesting management to think of printing out UCRF identity cards for proper identification especially when visiting offices and in public. One member remarked that we should be able to show the public that there is a problem and the problem is cancer. And if the problem is there, then we ought to find some solutions to the problem. It is true cancer has caused very serious problems to our families sometimes directly and at times indirectly.

Mr. Isaac Matovu an Artists and a broadcaster by profession highlighted the need for members to activiely work together to steer UCRF to another level.

Members also discussed how they can best work together.

2013 action plan:

·        To start carrying out awareness assemblies in public places like schools, theatres, parks.

·        To have a TV programs but this shall require a compilation of skits which can run for 6 months.

·        To have a UCRF grand launch some time in 2013

·        To have a strategic planning meeting on the 12^th January 2013

·        To start developing some concepts for funding of UCRF activities.

·        To hold quarterly meetings on a rotational basis between Luweero and Kampala

·        To have a monthly contributions of 2000 Ug. Shs to facilitate our quarterly workshops and other activities.

·        To compose some music in line with cancer and to have it launched accordingly

·        To come up with an annual theme on which to run our activities during the year

·        To recruit more volunteers who can assist as UCRF cancer prescribers.

·        To work out a plan with some interested doctors to sensitize members about cancer.

 

     Attached are some of the photos which were taken during the workshop

     Documentary exercise

 

Anita the team leader for the artists group introducing her team at the start of the workshop while Bro. Anthony Musisi the chairperson look on

Dr. Thaddeus Mutebi explaining to members what cancer is from a clinical perspective

Dr. Thaddeus Mutebi explaining to members what cancer is from a clinical perspective 

UCRF members listen to a presentation from Mr. Isanga Anthony the Program Area Manager