Cancer Awareness Month activities launched

In an effort to provide the public with more education on cancer, the Guyana Cancer Foundation (GCF) on Thursday launched its month-long activities on cancer awareness in the ballroom of the Marriott Hotel, Georgetown.

 The Foundation announced that it was geared up to provide help for low-income and underinsured persons affected by cancer with the aim of “reintegrating survivors back into society”.

President of the Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Bibi Hassan said that focus was currently being placed on Breast Cancer Awareness Month, but other forms of cancer would be addressed within the coming months.

Hassan explained the mandate of her organisation was to “provide help and inspire hope to those affected by cancer through early detection, education, awareness and free medical screening with a focus on the medically underserved and low-income population”.

The GCF President explained that she developed the passion to engage in cancer advocacy after her mother survived breast cancer.  GCF associate member, Justice Donald Trotman pointed to the importance of cancer awareness, noting that the disease has affected many persons across the world.

“Even though our scientists, the world over, are trying their best to find solutions, they have not yet come up with a specific and lasting one that could give us hope, [but] we are hopeful that one day the scourge of this disease will be completely eradicated,” the Judge noted.

Justice Trotman commended the GCF President for the work her organisation has been doing. The Foundation was registered in June 2016 and was formed through awareness programmes conducted by the then Avon Community Help Fund.

Over the next month, the GCF will host a tree wrapping exercise, cancer awareness sessions, wear Pink Friday and a Cancer Fitness Walk.  A number of private companies have committed their support to the NGO’s cancer initiatives and the organisation stated that it was in the process of soliciting partnership from Government entities, such as the Education Ministry and Social Protection Ministry.