The 4th of February is World Cancer Day all over the world. The theme this year is “Close the Care Gap”. It is aimed at raising awareness of the equity gap that affects almost everyone, in high as well as low and middle-income countries and is costing lives. It is led by the Union for International Cancer Control (ULCC). Certainly, it is aimed to raise awareness, improve education g personal catalyzing, collective and government action.
ABOUT CANCER
Cancer refers to a disease in which some of the body’s cells grow uncontrollably and spread to other parts of the body. Cancer can begin from anywhere in the human body which is made up of trillions of cells.
There are several types of cancer around the world that develop in people. Additionally, the types of cancer are named for the organs where the cancers form. For example, lung cancer starts in the lungs, and brain cancer starts in the brain.
According to the World Health Organization, says that cancer is the leading cause of death worldwide accounting for nearly 10 million deaths in 2020. As a consequence of tobacco use, high body mass index, alcohol consumption, low fruit, and vegetable intake, and lack of physical activity.
NEW CASES OF CANCER.
First breast cancer 2.26million cases
Second lung cancer 2.21 million cases
Third colon and rectum cancer 1.98 million cases
Fourth is prostate cancer 1.41 million
Followed by skin cancer (non-melanoma) 1.20 million cases
And lastly, stomach cancer were1.09 cases.
The most common causes of cancer deaths in 2020 were
- Lung cancer 1.80 million deaths
- Colon and rectum 916 000 deaths
- Liver cancer 830,000 deaths
- Stomach 769,000 deaths
- And lastly breast cancer 685,000 deaths
The Close the Care Gap theme of 2022 is a three-year campaign for impact. This will go on from 2022 to 2024.
IN 2022 IT IS ALL ABOUT REALIZING THE PROBLEM
This first year of the “Close the Care Gap” is about understanding and recognizing the inequities in cancer care around the globe. We have to open up our minds, look for the hard facts and the challenging conventions.
Some of the hard facts that those who have cancer and those who treat them.
The inequity in cancer care costs lives in a way that is visible and invisible. So many people die because the costs for treatment are high, the hospitals don’t have doctors or health workers that are meant to work on those affected.
Factors of income, education, location, and discrimination based on ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, and lifestyle negatively affect care
This is the year to help reduce the stigma and provide a listing ear to the perspectives of the people living with cancer and their communities and let those surviving involvements guide our thoughts and actions. Having a world of healthier people and better access to health and cancer services in the future, no matter where they are born, grow, age, work, or live.
CALL FOR ACTION
It doesn’t matter how big or how small your contribution is. Taking action together will make a significant difference in reducing cancer’s global impact. Young and old, rich and poor, black and white, male and female, trans and non-binary, east and west, followers, leaders, believers, and non-believers. There are far more things that unite us than divide us. Therefore, let’s agree that to close the gap in cancer care, we need to make the world aware that it exists.
Love Uganda Foundation today joins the world to celebrate World Cancer day under the theme “Close the Care Gap”. We come together in raising awareness and educate people on the causes of cancer and its effects on day-to-day living. We stand together today to show support to the fighters, admiring the survivors and honoring the taken.
The sad thing is that we more often hear this word these days and the good thing is that we will end it one day.