Jamaicans urged to be breast cancer aware
BREAST cancer survivor Reverend Ronald Thwaites has charged Jamaicans to become stronger advocates for stricter health policies and health observations locally.
Speaking at the Jamaica Cancer Society (JCS) and Reach to Recovery’s Keeping Abreast luncheon on Thursday, Thwaites said it is important to increase people’s consciousness about breast cancer and recognise that much more needs to be done for health promotion locally.
“If you look at the way the national budget is skewed, more than 80 per cent, close to 90 per cent, is spent on curative measures and that is understandable. But surely we need to emphasise much more the proper habits of life, to warn people of the risks they take, not in a guilt-ridden fashion, but as counsellors of education, joy and happiness,” he said, adding that young people need to be taught lessons to improve their health and well-being.
Thwaites said it is charitable groups and private interest groups that play a tremendous role in creating community and sticking together, which is very important in any society.
“A French journalist analysed the American society and came to the conclusion that the strength of their democracy and likely sustainability of their society is because they had formed themselves into so many interest groups and each of them had strong advocacy for their purposes and the state took heed and helped them to achieve,” he said.
As a result he stated that each individual had a tremendous role to play — schools, media and culture — to lift up those who struggle.
Meanwhile, Yulit Gordon, executive director of the JCS, stated that breast cancer continues to be a major public health issue locally, and according to the Ministry of Health, each year Jamaican families lose approximately 300 loved ones to the disease.
She stated that the JCS contributes to the focus around public health education programmes and continues to be centred on the provision of screening services.
“While we hope and wait with anticipation for a cure of this disease that continues to plague us, we are encouraged because new vaccines are coming out and new ways are there to treat the disease. Our advocacy work will continue in terms of the dialogue we are having at the government level to enact policies to address risk factors,” she said.
—KH
