By Peter Sebulime
The government of Uganda, through the ministry of health and the Uganda Cancer Institute (UCI), is currently developing the national Cancer Control Plan to support efforts and streamline interventions towards cancer control.
This is because cancer interventions are largely centralized and not properly coordinated, Urban biased, inefficient, and not well aligned with the country’s cancer burden.
According to the Executive Director Uganda Cancer Society Paul Ebusu, the goal of this Plan will be to reduce cancer incidence and mortality and improve quality of life of cancer patients, through systematic and equitable implementation of evidence based strategies for prevention, early detection, diagnosis, treatment and palliative care, while making the best use of the available resources.
“The development of the Plan started with the Constitution of a multi-sector writing team. The booklet on National Cancer Control Programs, Policies and Managerial Guidelines (2009) of the World Health Organization is the guiding tool in developing this plan for Uganda.
In this direction, the team has made progressive steps to galvanize support for the Plan by holding meetings with stakeholders including but not limited to the wider civil society, the media, and special interest groups like Uganda Albino Association,” Ebusu said.
Ebusu appealed to the government to ensure that the National Development Program 111 should capture the National Cancer Control Plan which is being developed to enable it to effectively meet the needs of Ugandans.
Dr Jackson Orem, the Executive Director Uganda Cancer Institute, said they are working closely with civil society to push the policy to be amended.
