By Simon Wokorach
Gulu
Beatrice Alworotoo from Laroo-Pece division in Gulu city who had abandoned treatment after being diagnosed with cancer from Mulago cancer institute did not sit back upon hearing through the radio that the facility was now admitting patients.
Alworotoo’s condition started with what she described as a mild fever coupled with headache which culminated into blood oozing from her nose about a year ago till last month.
With such a condition, she has been keeping with her a small bucket soaked with a piece of cloth and water that she frequently uses to clean herself.
“It was about a month ago when I heard an announcement on the radio calling upon patients to go for care at the cancer institute. Fortunately when I went, doctors attended to me. I am very sure of at least recovering,” she explained.
“I have been going to private clinics but I couldn’t find treatment in the government health facilities like this one. Every time I would go to a private facility, I was being asked to pay Shs. 200,000, which I couldn’t afford” she disclosed in an interview with GNNA.
A radiologist at the facility Dorothy Amony described Alworotoo’s condition as cancer of the head with enlargement of the neck which requires urgent attention.
Amony added that with proper medical care, her condition is manageable with high chances of recovering fully.
“The delay has been long but now we have to start her on treatment and continue with other investigations but cases like this coming to this facility are many” Amony disclosed.
Alworotoo is among the hundreds of cancer patients from Northern Uganda, who had earlier shunned treatment at Mulago Cancer Institute due to heavy costs ranging from accommodation, treatment fee and transport are now seeking redress at Gulu Regional Cancer Institute.
The multibillion regional cancer institute was established in Koro Kal cell in the Gulu city suburb worth Shs. 34.5 billion with funding from the Austrian Government to Uganda health sector was commissioned in 2021.
The Northern Uganda Regional Cancer Institute In charge Dr. Ivan Latim disclosed in an interview with GNNA over the weekend that the facility opened its first operations for surgeries of patients with complications this month.
The available data at the facility indicates that 126 patients who were diagnosed with cancer infections and referred to Mulago have been enrolled back to care at Gulu Centre.
According to Dr. Latim, the majority are battling cervical cancer, cancer of the breast and prostate cancer while 13 of the patients presenting with Oesophageal cancer as of last week.
Depending on the complexities of the cases, each surgery of a cancer patient costs the government a minimum of USD50 (about Shs.182,000) which most of the patients could not afford from this region on their own.
The Otorhinolaryngology Specialist, a visiting consultant from Ohio State in USA Dr. Chad Zender has urged the government to invest in cancer care with more health workers in place.
“A State like Ohio with only 15 million people has over 150 Otorhinolaryngology Specialists but Uganda with a huge population has about 15 Otorhinolaryngology Specialists which is a burden” He added.
According to Dr. Jeffery Otim, a Surgeon at Mulago National Cancer Institute, attributed the poor post-harvest handling of produce to a higher risk of cancerous infections in the region as food consumed is contaminated with chemicals.
The chemicals such as aflatoxins produced by fungi are ending up mostly in cereals and agricultural crops such as maize (corn), peanuts, cotton-seed, and tree nuts according to him due to poor post-harvest management, hence food contamination.
“The agricultural extension workers in this Country should tell our famers about the danger of poor post-harvest handling which is causing us big health problems. When you move to the villages, you will find people drying their maize and other crops on bare ground and it is a problem, he emphasized.
He also attributed Oesophageal cancer and cancer of the neck to high consumption of alcohol, smoking and related drug abuse and aflatoxins.
His counterpart Dr. Amose Obote, the head of operations at the facility similarly raised concerns on food contamination arising from agrochemicals being used in the food production.
He explained that though there are other underlined factors including Hepatitis B infections and HIV infections in the region, the consumption of chemicals in food has exposed the consumers to high risk.
With an increasing number of patients grappling with the limited access for cancer treatment, the facility is now open to surgeries in response to the emerging health complications in the region.
“We were forced to open this centre before the construction was completed to save those we could lose because they can’t afford to travel to Mulago National Cancer Institute” Obote further explained.
Completion updates
Phase one of the construction of the facility according to the Architect, Julius Ddamulira has reached 90 percent while the construction work is expected to complete this year.
At least two ultrasound machines have been installed in the centre, a radiology, Computed Tomography (CT-Scan) or imaging centre, 54 bed capacity with 6 intensive care units, X-ray and a private wing.
The chairperson Board of Director Uganda Cancer Institute Professor William Bazeyo noted that the Regional Cancer Institute will be managed by 200 specialized medical officers who shall be recruited soon.
With only 19 staff currently managing the Centre, Bazeyo explained that the Regional Centre has integrated digital operation in diagnosis and monitoring of patients.
“We need to provide real-time treatment and we have digitally linked up this centre to the National Centre where patients shall be monitored jointly with specialists from both sides” Bazeyo disclosed.
The Executive Director Uganda National Cancer Institute Dr. Jackson Orem commended the Austrian Government for providing care to Uganda health sector for cancer management.
Late diagnosis causing high death rates
He revealed that the annual cancer new infections in the Country stands at 32,000 cases while 80% of the patients die due late diagnosis, limited quality care representing 21,000 adding that the facility will address the current gaps in cancer management and treatment in the region.
“85 percent of the cancer patients we have at the National Cancer Institute at Mulago are from upcountry and that tells you why we need to bring the services closer” Dr. Orem disclosed.
He noted that with the overwhelming need for cancer treatment in the Country sides, only 4% of the patients who sought medical attention at the National Cancer Institute knew they had cancer while 96% of them are unaware of the conditions they are suffering from due to limited access to diagnosis.
He however attributed the highest mortality of the patients standing at 80% in the Country to late diagnosis of patients which he says will be addressed once all the regional cancer Institutes are established.
The Ugandan government signed a five-year contract with the Austrian government in November last year for the construction of five cancer regional institutes being managed by the AME International, an Austrian Medical Engineering Firm in partnership with Bam Engineering Company.
The construction which started in Northern Uganda will extend to Mbale in Eastern Uganda, Arua in West Nile and Mbarara to serve the population in Western Uganda in the subsequent years.
Legislators want food contamination addressed
Meanwhile, Members of Parliament have tasked the government through the Ministry of Agriculture to address the pressing concerns of food contamination in Northern Uganda.
The issue was presented to the house on July 18, 2023 in the 13th sitting of the 1st meeting of the 3rd session of the 11 Parliament by the Bardege-Layibi Division Legislator Martin Ojara Mapenduzi.
The motion for resolution was raised urging the government to prioritize interventions to address the challenges of mycotoxin contamination in Northern Uganda which was unanimously endorsed.
The Legislators asked the government to prioritize support towards post-harvest handling, good agricultural practices and multi-sectoral approaches in managing the crisis.
The motion came following research by Gulu University conducted to address the mycotoxin contamination in Northern Uganda.
The three-year research was done in twelve districts of Northern Uganda between August 2018 and 2022 indicating that 98.8% of food grains in the region are contaminated by mycotoxins.
The records from Gulu Cancer Registry of 2020 indicates that, more than 1,320 people in the four Districts of Gulu, Amuru, Omoro and Nwoya were diagnosed with cancers.
The most predominant cancer infections are cancer of the lymphatic system that accounts for 80% followed by cervical cancer at 58% and prostate cancer at 20%, liver cancer and HIV related cancer among others as the report further established.
