Get involved says Dean Knolly Clarke

Get involved. This was the admonishment of Dean Knolly Clarke yesterday as he delivered a sermon to mark the launch of the Cancer Society’s Cancer Awareness Week.

Dean Clarke said the Week should help people realise they must be participants in the work of the Society and “cannot remain on the sidelines.” In outlining the challenges ahead, he said a deepening of spiritual life and spirituality is needed. He said this was not just in prayers but how people encountered each other. Clarke said those called to be care givers must be authentic in their experience of compassion. “Caring and support cannot be distant and far off, we cannot just write cheques or attend meetings of the Cancer Society.” He appealed to members of the Society to truly participate in the pain and suffering of those with cancer. Clarke said people are called to share each other’s burden as brothers and sisters. He cited the example of the Good Samaritan in the Bible, who despite being an outsider rendered assistance. “Too often religious leaders are myopic; they wear blinkers; they do not see beyond their own religious community, beyond their own societies and they leave thousands half dead without being attended to.” Clarke said the country needed “conversion” to change attitudes so people will be their brother’s or sister’s keeper. He said cancer support groups must be advocates for the rights of persons who are vulnerable, especially the poor. “Many who need surgery cannot access it.  They don’t have the money.” Clarke said health problems cannot be addressed by more sophisticated and costly health hardware.

Referring to statistics that 30 percent of people in TT are living below the poverty line, he said these persons are not receiving proper health care and some with terminal diseases are not receiving treatment. Chairman of the Society Dr George Laquis admitted that Cancer Awareness is about highlighting the Society’s presence, purpose and activities. While it is a “continuous struggle,” he said the Week increased awareness about cancer and the society. The most common cancer in females in TT is cancer of the breast and cervix, while for males it is lung cancer. Laquis said cervical cancer is preventable with proper surveillance using the pap smear. On Friday the Society will be hosting Cancer Dollar Day to raise funds for its hospice for people who are terminally ill. The public is being invited to donate $1 or more to the Society — 62 Rosalino Street, Woodbrook, Port-of-Spain. Telephone 622-6827. Members of the Society will be at Long Circular Mall on Thursday and Friday from 10 am raising funds. “We are asking the public to be aware of cancer, contribute $1, we want the public to come out and be part of the society, find us.”