Copyright dailypost
The Ik-Kana Cancer Foundation plans to establish a cancer centre to increase awareness about cervical and breast cancer, which are claiming many lives among Vanuatu women, as well as other types of cancer. President of the cancer foundation, Max Albert, believes that educating women and young girls about the diseases will encourage early action, ultimately saving both lives and money. By the time many find out they are affected by cancer, it’s often too late for effective treatment, he stressed. He said some people in remote communities diagnosed with cancer suffer silently, while others feel ashamed or embarrassed about how others would react. Mr. Albert and his group are currently rolling out a massive cervical cancer on Efate and its offshore islands. He said when he asked in some communities how cervical cancer is caused, many people still do not know. He said the centre will address this lack of awareness by providing consistent education on different types of cancer for school children, women, and the public. “I believe that the more we educate, the easier it will be save lives. The more women and girls understand the importance of early detection, the more lives we can save, allowing them to enjoy life with their children and at the same time save money on traveling abroad for treatment,” he said. “With a centre, we can roll out awareness every day and also find out more discoveries. Currently, we are unable to do so. We want something steady, and as the centre grows, we aim to have clinics for each type of cancer. “We (Ik-Kana Foundation) will offer Pap smear screenings for young girls to test for cervical cancer, and HPV tests for those over 30 years old. Breast cancer examinations will also be available. While the Vila Central Hospital provides mammograms service at VT25,000, many rural women do not have enough money for it. A lot of women go to India for treatment and often have to repay the cost after receiving care. “We plan to set up in Port Vila first, before moving to Santo and potentially other parts of the country.” President Albert said he understands that setting up a cancer centre will be expensive, but it is for a good cause. Ik-Kana currently has two main officers and six volunteers.
