By Leonard Kamugisha Akida,
KAMPALA
Public health specialists are concerned about the rising number of Ugandans seeking cancer treatment only after the disease has reached advanced stages.
Dr. Richard Ekwam, a public health specialist at Uganda Cancer Institute (CIU) says that late detection and treatment of cancer by many Ugandans reduces their chances of survival.
“Many of the patients who come to the Cancer Institute arrive when their cancer is at stages 3 or 4. At this point, treatment becomes difficult, and chances of cure are reduced,” Dr. Ekwam said.
Speaking at the Clarke International University (CIU) Community Day, Dr. Ekwam called for awareness, early diagnosis and proactive health-seeking behavior to combat the growing burden of cancer in Uganda.
“We want to reduce the number of people who come to the Cancer Institute late. Ideally, people should seek treatment at stages 1 and 2, when cancer is still manageable. But by the time most come to us, it is already too advanced,” he said.
Dr. Ekwam highlighted the five most common cancers in Uganda as Cervical cancer, Breast cancer, Prostate cancer, Esophageal cancer (gullet cancer) and Kaposi’s sarcoma. Citing the cervical cancer vaccine for treatment of cervical cancer, Dr. Ekwam stressed that some of these cancers can be prevented when detected at the earliest stages.
“If a girl is vaccinated between the ages of 9-13, she develops immunity against the virus that causes cervical cancer. This simple vaccine can prevent a major health issue later in life,” Dr. Ekwam explained.
Additionally, he advised women to self-examine their breasts monthly, preferably seven days after menstruation, and seek medical attention if they notice lumps or swelling, and make follow ups with clinical breast exams, ultrasound scans, or mammograms.
The CIU Community Day featured free medical camps, business exhibitions, and recreational activities such as rock climbing and bouncing castles. The event attracted participation from entrepreneurs, students, and leading companies, including Stabex, Prudential Insurance, ICEA, Absa Bank, Centenary Bank, C-Care IHK, and UNCDA among others.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Rose Clarke Nanyonga, the Vice Chancellor of CIU, emphasized the university’s commitment to transforming communities through education and service.
“Universities exist to provide solutions. We generate knowledge so that our students can solve problems,” she said.
She also stressed the importance of practical learning, explaining that mentorship and teaching should go beyond theory to real-life applications.
“Mentoring and teaching cannot occur only in words, it needs to occur in demonstrable ways so that our students can be able to translate the knowledge they are learning in class into activities of service to community,” said VC Dr. Rose Clarke Nanyonga.
She said that Community Day serves as a valuable opportunity to showcase the university’s impact and relevance within the community.
This year’s CIU Community Day coincides with the university’s 17th anniversary. Vice Chancellor Dr. Rose Clarke Nanyonga highlighted the university’s vision for the future, which includes expanding infrastructure and increasing student enrollment.
“Our new strategic plan focuses on five key areas: enhancing teaching and learning, advancing research and innovation, fostering strong partnerships and strategic engagements, strengthening institutional capacity through infrastructure development, and increasing student enrollment,” Dr. Nanyonga said, listing CIU’s numerous achievements over the years.
Additionally, the Vice Chancellor stated that the university is awaiting charter status approval from President Museveni, following a recommendation by the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) last year.
For students, the event was an opportunity to develop entrepreneurial skills. Benitah Narinda, a final-year Bachelor of Business Administration student at CIU, led a group that showcased products such as hotdogs, kebabs, sausages and fresh juice.
“This day helps us gain experience in selling, marketing, and understanding the business world. Its an important day for us who want to go to the business world because it prepares us for the working environment, networking, and work ethics,” said Benitah.
