GG pledges to support cancer initiatives

The Governor General, Grand Chief Sir Bob Bofeng Dadae, says immediate intervention is needed to curb the increasing number of deaths caused by cancer in the country.

He said whilst poor lifestyle choices is a contributing factor, the non-availability of cancer treatment facilities and equipment means many people cannot access treatment to control the disease.

Addressing the management of Lae’s Angau Memorial Hospital recently, the Governor General made know his intention to support the hospital and its initiatives to acquire cancer treatment equipment.

“Cancer cannot be cured, but it can be controlled. So we need facilities for that. We badly need oncologists in the country also,” he stated.

“My concern is to progress acquiring of cancer equipment to be made available in the country as a matter of urgency. I want to support initiatives to make this become a reality.”

Angau Hospital’s Medical Services Director, Dr. Ruso Perone, revealed that at present the only available treatment for cancer is surgery if cancer is detected early and chemotherapy treatment. However, the cost of chemotherapy treatment is quite expensive and requires more than K1 million to purchase and administer to patients.   

Despite this, the hospital management revealed that moves are now underway to establish a Cancer Centre in Lae. Land has been identified and acquired for the centre and the hospital management is confident ground work will start soon beginning with fencing of the land this week.

Meantime, another concern the Governor General raised was the lack of ambulance service in the province.

Grand Chief Sir Bob said with business and mining ventures taking off in the province, medical services need to be improved and ambulance is one such service that must be present in the province.

The Governor General said he would like to see the St. John Ambulance established in the province and throughout the country.

(ANGAU General Hospital filepic)

Author: 
Press release