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Charity walk to help fight against breast cancer
2006-10-26 09:09:37
By James William
First Lady Salma Kikwete, is expected to officiate at a charity walk to motivate the society to take part in the fight against breast cancer.
The walk slated for Sunday will start at TACAIDS offices along Kivukoni road and will end at the Ocean Road Cancer Institute.
The chairperson of the Services Committee of the Association of Women Medical Doctors of Tanzania, (MEWATA), Dr. Petronila Ngiloi, made the announcement at a press conference in Dar es Salaam yesterday.
Dr. Ngiloi said the charity walk focuses on two factors namely informing the public about breast cancer and raising funds for the purchase of an x-ray machine capable of detecting early stages of breast cancer, (mammogram).
”The equipment will cost $ 75,000, I am optimistic that this amount will be raised through collective responsibility to help the society address the problem more efficiently,” Dr. Ngiloi said.
Commenting on the breast cancer problem in the country, Dr Ngiloa said more than 21,000 new cases of a variety of breast cancer are reported every year and hardly 10 per cent of the patients receive treatment.
”Over 80 per cent of other cancer patients receive treatment late. Some cannot afford the costs involved, while others lacked proper advice on the urge to undergo preliminary breast cancer investigation,” she explained.
She paid tribute to all who contributed to breast cancer diagnostic initiative, a scheme that has enabled MEWATA to reach many women across the regions.
On her part, the chairperson of MEWATA Dr Nelly Iteba said cases which were reported before developing serious complications were handled accordingly and medication became timely.
”We are determined to strengthen anti-breast cancer awareness campaign to make sure that suffering women are assisted before it is too late,” Dr. Nelly said.
Lions Club of Dar es Salaam Central in collaboration the Tanzania Breast Cancer Support Group-TBCSG and MEWATA have jointly organized the charity walk.
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