The Cancer Association of Namibia (CAN), founded in 1968 by Dr Abraham Bernard May, will this year mark 55 years of raising awareness and educating Namibians in the battle against cancer.
The organisation has a varied support programme structure as part of its goal to raise awareness and educate on cancer to help prevent, detect, and support cancer patients.
From education campaigns to screening through the National Cancer Outreach Programme, support is also extended to diagnosed patients by providing accommodation at CAN’s two interim homes for children battling cancer, House Acacia and CHICA House.
In an interview with Nampa on Wednesday, CAN Chief Executive Officer Rolf Hansen said the Patient Financial Assistance Programme financially assists vulnerable cancer patients to travel to Windhoek for treatment, and often assists on co-payments, buying out of medicine when State pharmacies are short, or assisting with travel costs should a patient require critical medical care only available in South Africa.
“In Namibia, we are fortunate in that State patients have access to cancer treatment at the Dr AB May Cancer Care Centre at the Windhoek Central Hospital, as well as quality private oncology units,” he said.
Hansen stated that as part of commemorating the milestone, CAN introduced the ‘#55 for Hope’ campaign last week at the organisation’s gala evening in Windhoek as part of the anniversary pledge to fight cancer with the Namibian community.
“We cannot view cancer in isolation from other diseases, and the community should recognise that we all have a role to play in improving our community. The ‘Triple C’ is intended to bring other community-focused organisations to the table so that we can all exchange ideas, listen to what the community has to say, provide an integrated health offering to our people, and help build our society,” he said.
CAN will welcome 550 Namibians to the Community Care Centre / Triple C over the next 55 working days for their annual screening for the three most common cancers (breast, cervical, and prostate cancer) for a fee of N.dollars 55, he said.
Source: Namibia Press Agency
