Kamla calls for action on cancer

“Politicians alone cannot do it; we must all put pressure on the administration to strengthen public health policies for cancer prevention, including policies on tobacco control, alcohol reduction, diet and physical activity,” she said in a statement to commemorate yesterday’s observance of World Cancer Day.

Persad-Bissessar said she had devoted a great amount of time and resources for detection and treatment of cancer during her tenure as prime minister, most notably through the construction of the National Oncology Centre at Mount Hope, “which, like so many other health projects, continues to remain at a standstill under the present administration.” “Cancer is a potential threat to all of us; no one is immune. That is why today I urge everyone to keep the conversation going so all of us will increase our awareness and knowledge of cancer,” she said.

Noting that Trinidad and Tobago, Cuba and Argentina have the highest mortality rates for cancer according to PAHO (Pan American Health Organisation), Persad-Bissessar said statistics from the National Cancer Registry show that 13,100 died from cancer in T&T between January 1998 and December 2007, an average of 1,456 each year or 121 cancer deaths each month (about four every day for the past nine years).

Referring to PAHO, she said 1.7 million cases of cancer would be diagnosed in the Caribbean and Latin America by 2030.

“With such alarming statistics, we need to demand that the government pays greater attention to cancer detection and treatment,” she said.

Persad-Bissessar said historian Angelo Bissessarsingh was the latest victim of the dreaded disease.

San Juan/Barataria MP Dr Fuad Khan, meanwhile, urged citizens to do their part in combating the disease through regular screenings and information.

“It is also imperative that the Ministry of Health increase their public awareness campaign to ensure that people are educated on what they can do to minimise the risk of contracting these diseases, and are getting tested regularly for early detection, to minimize the mortality rate,” he said. Noting that almost everyone in TT has been touched by cancer, Khan said it is estimated that over 1,000 persons will succumb to it in 2017, and many more will be diagnosed with the disease for the first time.

The MP, too, urged the Government to complete its construction of the National Oncology Centre.

“The onus is on this government to complete it and ensure that it is operational within the shortest period of time,” he said.

“The NOC is expected to offer a sustainable, equitable, comprehensive, and state-of-the art system of cancer control, along with a new focus on prevention and screening to reduce cancer incidence, quality assurance and a patient centered system of treatment and palliation.

“Not only would the NOC be directly responsible for saving countless lives of persons afflicted with cancer, but it would also allow further research to be conducted in finding ways to better diagnose and treat these diseases.”