Grenadians have been urged to undergo screening to detect cancer now that the island's health sector is equipped with its National Cancer Programme and a Cancer Registry.
The local Cancer Registry was officially commissioned last week Friday simultaneously with the launch of the National Cancer Programme aimed at encouraging early screening and treatment of cancer.
The disease is said to be the number two cause of deaths worldwide.
The most prevalent form of cancer in Grenada is breast cancer, and it is the most common cause of cancer-related deaths of women world-wide.
According to Nurse Hermilin Ashton who chaired the launching, the Ministry of Health recognized that the only way forward to provide information on the incident of cancer in Grenada and how to manage this chronic disease within the populace was to establish a cancer registry.
She said that with the help of the Cancer Society an approach was made to the Pan-American Health Organisation (PAHO) to assist with the project by sourcing the necessary software programmes and providing training for the registrar, Eurika Cato.
Telecommunications Provider, Digicel has come to the support of the programme by providing one million Eastern Caribbean dollars to help treat cancer.
The money was presented by Digicel's Chief Executive Officer for the Eastern Caribbean, John Mangos to Health Minister, Senator Ann David Antoine.
Digicel's Country Manager, Patricia Maher said the money will be administered by Direct Relief International in California, USA.
Maher said her company will be working to create awareness for early detection and screening of cancer.
As part of the awareness campaign, post-paid Digicel customers who pay their bills during the month of January will get a chance to win a pink handset from the telecommunication provider.
The Head of the Grenada Cancer Programme, Dr. Carl Niamatali was also presented with a Blackberry Handset from Digicel in order to better equip him with access to modern means of communications.
Health Minister David-Antoine spoke of her confidence in the success of the National Cancer Programme, adding that the coming on stream of the cancer clinic at the General Hospital and extending it to the Princess Alice Hospital in Carriacou represents a quantum leap to address the problem of a disease that is the second cause of deaths worldwide.
She said the programme was conceptualised with a view to providing a comprehensive treatment programme for not only locals, but people within the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS).
According to the senior government minister, in the quest to ensure cancer prevention, her ministry will advocate lifestyle changes, early detection through screening, prompt diagnosis, and comprehensive treatment to benefit everyone.
She noted that the ratio of cancer patients, male to female was eight to one.
"Gentlemen, I ask you to wake up. This does not merely reflect the incidents of cancer among women, but it also reflects the fact that men, perhaps, are not coming forward as early as they should for screening and early detection," she said.
Men are more prone to prostrate cancer.
Director of Hospital Services, Terron Gilchrist who also spoke at the commissioning ceremony said the Ministry of Health is committed to an expanded programme of cancer prevention.
He stated that this policy can be seen by the recruitment of a medical oncologist, Guyanese-born Dr. Niamatali, an oncology nurse co-ordinator, Susan Bowen, and the registrar, Ms. Cato.
Gilchrist pointed out that the primary objective of the cancer registry is to save lives, and to ensure that every patient receives the highest possible quality cancer care in a supportive, courteous and compassionate environment.
He was confident that the advent of the cancer registry will also address the inequality in health care.
According to Gilchrist, there will be no discrimination regardless of the status of the individual, rich or poor."The national cancer programme is a comprehensive, integrated clinical programme which seeks to address all aspects of care," he said.
Gilchrist indicated that this year's motto at the hospital is, "Putting Patients First".
