Uganda Cancer Institute and partner agencies develop a cancer plan

By; Ben Musanje

16^th April 2019

Uganda Cancer Society, Cancer Institute and Cancer Control advocates are currently developing a National Cancer Control Plan (NCCP) that will ensure treatment for any cancer patient.

According to Dr. Noleb Mugisha, the Coordinator Uganda Cancer Institute Mulago the draft of the national cancer control plan indicates that 60% of the cancer burden is caused by infections while the 40% is due to life style that would be avoidable.

The NCCP is expected to streamline prevention, early detection, diagnosis and treatment, palliative care and survivorship based on data, evidence, research, evaluation and stakeholder support hence reduced cancer risky, earlier cancer detection, improved palliative care and increased quality of life.

Mugisha explains that in the NCCP, cancer services are going to be extended to the communities and create public awareness and reach to everyone irrespective of any status.

The NCCP is expected to be ready by June this year, then go through the procedures for approval before its implementation for five years from the 2020/2021.

Meanwhile, the National Coordinator of Uganda Health Communication Alliance (UHCA), Richard Baguma Tinkasimire urged the media to embrace the campaigns about cancer diseases since no body is immune to them.