It was World Cancer Day yesterday observed globally with the aim of informing and encouraging people on its prevention, early detection, and treatment.
I imagine the Day might not have been observed so much in the Solomon Islands this year because of the Covid-19 transmission spreading from Honiara and reportedly into all the provinces and having already seen at least 8 deaths attributed to the Covid virus.
It is understandable should World Cancer Day not have been given much attention in current circumstances, but the fact is that cancer is a leading cause of death in the Solomon Islands and especially breast cancer in women, or cancer in others accelerated by illnesses brought on by NCDS.
FIJI has recently acknowledged its rate of cancer deaths and the large numbers of its population suffering from NCDs.
While the main pre-occupation at home is focused on how to combat the rate and spread of Covid-19 it would be negligible to overlook the importance of breast screening at the National Referral Hospital, NRH, if indeed that should be the case.
I was made aware that the one mammogram machine at the NRH’S cancer unit was inoperative for whatever reason and breast screening for women was at a standstill.
I wrote to the New Zealand Foreign Minister in particular to send one or more mammogram machines to the NRH, and also appealed in the same manner to the range of diplomatic partners having ties with the Solomon Islands Government but have had no word whether a mammogram machine eventuated and there has been a resumption of essential breast screening at the Cancer unit.
The SI Opposition Leader has been outspoken about the state and needs of the local health service, and so have others commented on Linkedin about alleged failings in the light of the current Covid pandemic sweeping across the country.
I believe the NRH has struggled and continues to struggle in the face of the Covid virus intrusion and spread, but the hospital needs more money and resources to cope, not mentioning new facilities and an upgrade promised by the PRC government comparatively recently.
The threat of breast cancer is taken much more seriously in other countries and in the UK it is now proposed to conduct regular breast screening of women in main shopping centres throughout the country in what has been described as a 10 year plan and a “national war on cancer.”
I wish there was the same realisation on fighting cancer in the Solomon Islands.
Yours sincerely
Frank Short
