“GO FOR EARLY CANCER SCREENING TO ENSURE SUCCESSFUL TREATMENT” ROTARY CLUB ARUA ECO-CITY CALLS UPON THE PUBLIC

Arua District LC 5 Chairperson, Alfred Okuonzi and Madi-Okollo RDC, Swaib Toko flagging-off participants in the 21km run. Photo by Sabir Musa

By Sabir Musa

Arua city

Organizers of Rotary Cancer Run and leaders in Arua have called-on the public to consider early screening for Cancer from authorized facilities to increase chances of successful treatment when the disease is detected at an early stage.

This call by members of Rotary Club Arua Eco City was made during this year’s annual Rotary Cancer Run in Arua City organized to raise fund and awareness for prevention and treatment of Cancer in the country.

Rotary Club Arua Eco City Past President and the Cancer Run Mobiliser for Northern Uganda, Sharon Lalam, made a passionate call for regular health checkups to prevent cases of detecting cancer at a late stage which always comes with challenge of treatment.

“If Cancer is discovered at its initial stage, it can actually be treated and you are cured. The challenge with us is that we only go to hospital when feeling pain in our bodies or when it is worse. I encourage all of us to do Cancer screening early, let us exercise and eat right,” she advised.

Rotary Cancer Run is an annual program started in 2012, spearheaded by Rotary International in partnership with Parliament of Uganda and Centenary Bank as lead partner.

The program is dedicated to raise fund and awareness for prevention and treatment of Cancer.

Some participants in the 13th edition of Rotary Cancer Run exercising shortly after completing the run.
Photo by Sabir Musa

Arua District LC 5 Chairperson, Alfred Okuonzi, reechoed the need early screening, stating that knowing of the disease early gives hope for treatment and cure. “It is better to screen before you are attacked. Identifying it early and going for better treatment increases chances of cure. This is the message we must spread, not only government but wherever we are,” he said.

This year, collections from the 13th edition of Rotary Cancer Run aimed at raising Shs 4-billion to complete the construction of a radiotherapy centre, equipped with 2-bunkers at Nsambya Hospital.

The Manager of Centenary Bank Arua branch is hopeful that these collections will complete the project and create impact. “We look forward to completion of the 2 bunkers and linear accelerator cancer testing and treatment machines” the Manager said.

In this year’s edition, over Shs 60 million was raised in Arua, at least 1700 people participated in 4 different categories of the run; 2km, 5km, 10km and 21km.

During the launch of this year’s Rotary Cancer Run in April, the Speaker of Parliament, Anita Among, confirmed parliament’s commitment of Shs. 1 billion towards completion of the project.