Awareness programs to mark World Cancer Day
by Carol Aloysius
The Health Ministry in keeping with its policy of preventing non
communicable diseases, an initiative taken by President Maithripala
Sirisena in 2013, will launch several awareness programs on February 4,
World Cancer Control Day.
Consultant Community Physician, National Cancer Control Program (NCCP)
Dr. Suraj Perera said the programs will include lectures, discussions
and Training of Trainers (TOT) along with programs for Medical Officers
of Health, primary heath care medical officers and general
practitioners, with the participation of resource persons including
consultant surgeons and oncologists, at provincial and district level.
He said an in-service training program for primary health care staff
with special focus on prevention, early detection, rehabilitation and
palliative care for cancer patients in primary care settings will also
be held.
"We will also conduct awareness programs for volunteers, school
teachers, staff of government and private organisations on cancer
prevention and hold a program for estate workers as well", he told the
Sunday Observer.
Health education programs will be held at routine clinics in
hospitals, MOH clinics while early detection at Well Woman clinics,
breast clinics and mobile clinics will be further strengthened.
Based on the National Registry of Cancer Control (2008), breast
cancer is listed as the common female cancer in Sri Lanka followed by
uterine, cervical, thyroid gland, oesophagus and ovarian cancer.
In males, the commonest cancers listed are lip, oral, pharynx,
trachea, lungs and colon cancer.
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