On the 1st 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.
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.
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 12th
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
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
