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🇺🇬 Uganda /Health & Science

Foreign Affairs Ministry Backs Cancer Run With Shs10m As Rotary Urges Early Screening

From AllAfrica Uganda · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • The Ministry of Foreign Affairs contributed Shs10 million to the annual Rotary Cancer Run, aiming to raise awareness and funds for cancer.
  • The ministry is also mobilizing Uganda's diplomatic missions abroad to participate in the event.
  • Rotary Cancer Run Chairman emphasized early screening, noting that 80% of Uganda's 36,000 annual cancer cases are diagnosed late, leading to high mortality.

Uganda's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has pledged Shs10 million towards this year's Rotary Cancer Run, an annual event dedicated to combating cancer. Ambassador Charles Ssentongo, the ministry's Chief of Protocol, represented the Permanent Secretary and highlighted the ministry's long-standing support for the run as part of its commitment to social causes, particularly health.

This partnership reflects our broader commitment to being part of advancing various social causes, notably health causes, which are aimed at raising awareness and funding for the various health challenges our country faces.

— Ambassador Charles SsentongoExplaining the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' support for the Rotary Cancer Run.

"This partnership reflects our broader commitment to being part of advancing various social causes, notably health causes, which are aimed at raising awareness and funding for the various health challenges our country faces," Ambassador Ssentongo stated. Beyond the financial contribution, the ministry is encouraging Uganda's diplomatic missions in cities worldwide, including Nairobi, Kuala Lumpur, and New York, to join the run from their respective duty stations, using the event to amplify cancer awareness.

Rotary Cancer Run Chairman Meddie Lutaaya lauded the ministry's support but stressed the critical importance of early cancer screening. He revealed that Uganda records approximately 36,000 new cancer cases annually, with a concerning 80% of these patients seeking treatment at advanced stages. This late diagnosis, Lutaaya explained, significantly reduces survival rates, making early detection crucial for timely and effective treatment.

On average, annually in Uganda, we receive 36,000 cases of new diagnosis. This means 36,000 Ugandans are diagnosed with cancer every year. And the very unfortunate bit is that 80 per cent of the 36,000 lose the battle within the first year of diagnosis.

— Meddie LutaayaHighlighting the severity of late cancer diagnosis in Uganda.

Lutaaya urged Ugandans to prioritize regular cancer screenings and seek medical attention promptly. This year's Rotary Cancer Run aims to raise a net total of Shs5 billion to further support the fight against the disease.

What that means is that, in essence, the cancer diagnosis is close to a death sentence. And the reason is because of late diagnosis.

— Meddie LutaayaEmphasizing the impact of late diagnosis on cancer patient outcomes in Uganda.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by AllAfrica Uganda. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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