By Yunus S Saliu
The National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP) of the Ministry of Health in collaboration with IAEA, WHO, and partners on Thursday commenced a two-day meeting to validate the draft Integrated Mission for Programme of Action for Cancer Therapy (IMPACT).
The validation meeting presided over by the Minister of Health Honourable Ahmadou Lamin Sameteh was held at Metzy Hotel and Resort, Kotu, and it brought together different national and international experts across the health sector and beyond.
Addressing the gathering at the validation presentation meeting, Honourable Minister Ahmadou Lamin Sameteh stated that cancer care is very important in The Gambia (that’s the reason)the government is currently sending many Gambians abroad every year for cancer care.
“The most common cancer among women is cervical cancer, then liver cancer and as well as breast cancer, but for men, it is liver, lung then prostate in incidence and death,” he explained.
The Minister expressed delight that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) was around to support the country in this endeavor, he said the government of The Gambia is very interested in this fight and will not hand it over totally to any partner.
He notified them that the Ministry of Health has started working in this area “first by setting up the cancer program and has advocated with different partners for prioritization of cancer prevention and care in the country. So we are happy that IAEA is responding to our call in this massive way.”
Honourable Samateh, therefore, thanked the IAEA for all the support provided to the country while noting that in The Gambia Cervical Cancer is the commonest.
Speaking earlier at the presentation and validation meeting were Dr. Momodou Gassama of the World Health Organization, Banjul, The Gambia followed by Dr. Alfred Karagu, International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna, Austria, while the Situational Analysis of Cancer Control and Presentation of National Cancer Control Strategy (NCCS) was presented by Ms. Fatoumatta Jaiteh of Ministry of Health, Banjul, The Gambia.