National registry vital for cancer monitoring

A national cancer registry is very important to monitor the rate of cancer affecting Papua New Guineans.

The PNG Cancer Foundation (PNGCF) is hoping that a cancer registry is set up soon as it will provide an outline of how the country is performing as far as cancer is concern.

The foundation depends on statistics it collects from baseline surveys and screening it conducts during its provincial awareness and free cancer screening.

PNGCF chief executive officer Dadi Toka Jnr says without a cancer registry it is very difficult to see how effective their educational programs are doing in terms of cancer prevention.

Therefore, the foundation has taken the initiative to conduct its own surveys and screening which are done at the provinces it visits.

Toka said: “The system doesn’t allow us to give an actual overall data on what cancer is in the country.

“There has been a lot of talk about setting a cancer registry by the Department of Health as they’re the mandated body.”

Toka added that he is happy that the department is pushing that agenda and in time the registry will happen.

From the screening conducted so far this year at Gaire, Alotau, Kimbe and Lae, the foundation referred 426 people for further checkup for cancer including mouth, breast and cervical cancer.

Author: 
Quintina Naime