The National Council of Sports partnered with breast cancer survivors to raise awareness about early cancer detection through community runs.
In a renewed effort to combat cancer, particularly breast cancer, the National Council of Sports (NCS) has partnered with breast cancer survivors under the umbrella of the Uganda Women's Cancer Support Organisation. This collaboration aims to widely disseminate early detection awareness through community runs.
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Breast cancer primarily affects women aged 35 to 45, though it can also occur in women outside this age bracket and, in some cases, men. The initiative features personal testimonies from survivors like Joyce Namubiru, who was diagnosed with breast cancer 15 years ago. The survivors also shared their vision of constructing a support centre in Mende to assist patients, especially those who travel from far to receive treatment at the Uganda Cancer Institute.
A key message from the campaign is that the exact cause of cancer remains unknown, a fact that the survivors themselves highlighted. The Deputy General Secretary of the National Council of Sports, Joseph Oluka, emphasized that community runs are a vital tool for promoting physical fitness and fighting disease.
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The campaign stressed that all types of cancer can be effectively treated if detected early. The urgency of this message is underscored by stark statistics: in 2022 alone, Uganda registered 2,999 new cases of various cancers, of which 1,560 were fatal, highlighting the critical need for continued awareness and early intervention.
