UGANDA CANCER INSTITUTE BATTLES AMIDST CHALLENGES

The first case of cancer to be diagnosed in Uganda was in the year 1966 but by the end of 2010 Uganda cancer institute (UCI) had received over 35,000 new cases of cancer most of which are in the late stages and patients are terminally ill. According to a recent study by the Uganda cancer institute over 20000 people die of cancer annually in Uganda.
Despite the fact, most Ugandans are not aware of the pandemic and the rate at which it is wrecking the human race. But why? “Most people get to cancer when they are emotionally related. But if you don`t have a relative you don`t even know it exists in the country” says Dr Tamale Henry, a radiographer at Mulago school of Radiology. Studies show that while in developed countries they are old people likely to catch this disease, the reverse is true in developing countries. “In the developing countries like Uganda young people are developing cancer than in the developed countries. This is due to poor feeding of children in developing countries” he says.
According to Christine Namulindwa the public relations officer Uganda Cancer Institute, on average UCI admits 86 patients a day and the numbers are promising to increase, yet those admitted are already terminally ill. “At present we admit those who are badly off but still the number is overwhelming” she says. Mulago also has an outpatient department where those in the early stages receive treatment from which also couples as a screening area with free training services offered especially to women who are prone to breast cancer which is very common in the country.
Namulindwa says 40 percent of Uganda`s population have cancer and the majority of which are under the age of 65 years. This is where five years old Elvis Mutumba of lugazi falls. The handsome young man was diagnosed of leukemia two years ago and has had three Bone marrow aspirate and biopsies (read surgeries) all unsuccessful and by the time The Razor met him at the hospital he had just had his last one and unable to sit due to much unbearable joint pain. “Every after treatment Elvis has to go for surgery” says his mother Nampera Betty, a single mother of two. “Treatment alone is very expensive. A single bottle of Asparagnaza costs thirty five thousand shillings yet he`s supposed to have five bottles every week” she says. “For a rough estimate that lady might have to pay fourty five million shillings for her son to heal” adds Christine Namulindwa the PRO. But is this really possible for retail shop keeper like Elvis’ mother? Despite being costly cancer drugs are also not available at the hospital pharmacy that patients have to buy them from outside.
The Uganda Cancer Institute is the only one in the region with radiology machine serving Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan, Tanzania and even Kenyans cross over to Uganda for cheaper services. “Even Kenyans where it is more expensive come to Uganda yet we have only one radiology machine serving the entire region. I guess that explains the overwhelming numbers we have here. Above all we operate at a low budget.” Says Christine Namulindwa. Yet as Dr Tamale Henry says, “fifty percent of all cancer patients will at one time have to undergo radiation treatment”
Studies also show leukemia, colon cancer, cervical cancer, burkitts lymphoma, and karposi sarcoma, breast cancer among others as the most common in Uganda today. Experts advise people to eat more of vegetables and fruits and avoid too much of red meat, alcohol, cigarettes for these only increase the risk of one catching cancer. Currently the Uganda Cancer Institute has set up pilot projects in all four regions of the country and it works closely with partner organizations like Uganda women Cancer Survivors Association and Hospice Uganda who also help in the identification of patients.