Sharon Nakigudde, a former resident of Buloba in Wakiso district lost her battle with cervical cancer recently. According to relatives, the late Nakigudde started experiencing excruciating pain in her lower abdomen which was followed by bleeding and a swollen stomach.

But like most villagers, her first point of call was at a traditionalist who told her she had been bewitched. Meanwhile, relatives add, the woman's health deteriorated every passing day until they decided it was time to try modern medicine at the hospital.

By the time the patient reached hospital, doctors noticed that she was suffering from cancer of the cervix, but also that it was unfortunate the cancerous tumours could not be stopped to save her since they had spread to other parts of the body.

 Nakigudde is but one of the growing number of Ugandans who have lost their lives to curable health conditions like cancer but only because they report to the hospitals when it's too late.

Whereas cancer used to be a rich man's disease, statistics now show that the killer disease is wrecking havoc across various demographic as well as social-economic strata of our society. For instance, cancer experts from Mulago National Referral Hospital recently warned of an increase in cancer cases among young people, especially girls.

The changes in people's lifestyles too is cited as a key driver in the developing cancer pandemic as more people consume more animal proteins while at the same time spending lesser and lesser time exercising their bodies.

The situation is further complicated by the fact that Ugandans do not have a culture of visiting a trained physician for regular check-ups, let alone seeking treatment from a qualified individual. Instead, most Ugandans are stuck in the habit of diagnosing and prescribing medicines for themselves.

Seeking medical advice is considered the first step whenever someone feels unhealthy. However, because of the fact that some potentially deadly diseases such as cancer may not manifest themselves through immediate pain or visible characteristics, medical experts have always called for regular check-ups so that someone is able to detect an ailment and stop it.

Kevin Duffy, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of International Medical Group, argues that it is time Ugandans started servicing their bodies the way motor cars are serviced.

"Many people eat wrong and semi-prepared food and meat which is dangerous to the bodies. Others have bad behaviours more especially when it comes to relationship matters where by they do not have one sexual partner hence their bodies need continuous checking," says Duffy.

According to Duffy, the period someone should take to check or service their body is determined by their behaviours especially eating and sexual behaviours.

As a way of encouraging people to constantly monitor their well being International Hospital Kampala (IHK) one of the elite hospitals in Uganda, has established a "Well Clinic" which, according to Duffy, will develop patient management systems for preventing diseases and promoting healthy behaviours through screening, testing and examining that promote wellness and make certain that any indicators of ill-health are dealt with while it is possible.

The establishment of a wellness clinic is perhaps timely because of the increasing incidences of diseases like diabetes, cancer, hypertension, which are closely related to changing lifestyles of the people. With constant checking however, doctors are confident that such diseases are manageable and treatable.

 At the well clinic, Duffy and company conduct cancer awareness campaigns, body screening and equip clients with skills on how to examine themselves which ultimately makes it easier to diagnosis disease symptoms.  to prevent terminal diseases are conducted.

"Small number of people does service their bodies. Most of them wait to turn sick without knowing that preventive health is cheaper than waiting to be sick," he says.

It does not promise to be an easy exercise especially since it will require the need to constantly remind people to change their behaviours, which is considered a difficult undertaking in disease control.

The challenge of educating people to improve their health-seeking behaviours to control such lifestyle diseases like cancer is further complicated by the fact that the country has put much of its resources and focus on HIV/Aids.

As Duffy notes: "There has been too much focus on HIV while other diseases which are dangerous have been ignored." He argues that there is a serious need for a sustained campaign to educate the people on cultivate health-seeking behaviours such as constant check-ups. blog comments powered by Disqus

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