Keetmanshoop
Deputy Minister of Health and Social Services Juliet Kavetuna has called on citizens to take a conscious decision to protect themselves from cancer.
She said it is up to individuals to decide and make drastic changes in their lives to ensure they live a healthy life, which reduces the risk of getting many types of cancer.
Kavetuna made these remarks at the commemoration of World Cancer Day and SADC Health Lifestyle Day at Keetmanshoop on Friday.
She stressed that providing information and raising awareness about common risk factors, such as smoking, alcohol abuse and unhealthy eating, will not achieve a healthy Namibian population unless every individual makes a conscious decision to make positive changes to their lifestyle.
She addressed the youth in particular and encouraged them to refrain from activities that might be bad for their health, stating that young people should stop smoking, practice safe sex and avoid alcohol and drugs.
“In particular, I wish to appeal to our young people to start taking their health seriously,” she said.
Kavetuna encouraged people in the audience to dispel the myths surrounding cancer, such as it only affects wealthy people and that the disease is not treatable once diagnosed.
She said the disease does not know any boundaries as it can affect anybody, irrespective of gender and wealth. Furthermore, she emphasised that once diagnosed cancer can be cured.
She further pointed out that skin cancer, breast cancer, Kaposi sarcoma, prostate cancer and cervical cancer are the five most prevalent cancers in Namibia, affecting about 3 078 Namibians in 2013, compared to 1 625 cases recorded in 2006.
That represents an increase of 1 453 new cancer cases in seven years, bringing the average number of yearly cases to 207, an increase Kavetuna says is alarmingly high, given a population of merely two million.
In the //Karas Region, cervical cancer caused by unprotected sex and multiple sexual partners ranks number one, followed by lung cancer, mostly caused by smoking of tobacco products.
Although it is regarded as a deadly disease cancer is not necessarily a death sentence.
To provide proof, one cancer survivor stood up at the event and shared her story of how she defeated cancer.
Taking to the podium, an emotional Maria Yisa narrated her story, saying after she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2006 she was confused, but gathered up her courage. She prayed and never gave up and sought medical help.
She said although she did not have any support system, she went from doctor to doctor and after going through intensive therapy she is now free of the disease that once threatened her life.
“That day I thought it was the end, but it wasn’t. It’s not the end if you have cancer,” she said and encouraged fellow Namibians to go for regular check-ups so that any health-related problems can be detected at an early stage.
The event at J. Stephanus Stadium was attended by various organisations, learners and interested members of the community.