PHOTO: Dr. Anthony Tucker
By Garmah Never Lomo, garmahlomo@gmail.com
As cancer remains a silent killer in Liberia, an official of the Health Ministry, Dr. Anthony Tucker says the lack of diagnostic equipment and medication remain a major challenge.
In an exclusive interview recently, the Director of noncommunicable diseases said the Liberian government has however made a tremendous effort in creating awareness on cancer in Liberia, but the sector is still confronted by these challenges.
The issue of Cancer has not widely been spoken about and this silent killer has taken away a lot of lives, mostly of children and women as the result of lack of awareness and early treatment
Due to the lack of awareness, Dr. Tucker said many women who usually died from breast cancer outside of health facilities think that it juju and they prefer to go prayer houses for solutions but most often they lose their lives because of ignorance and high cost of cancer treatment.
According to Health Ministry’s Director in charge of cancer, the Liberian government has established two cancer registry to pick up cancer cases in two counties namely John F. Kennedy pathologist laboratory which allow cancer parents to do screening at those two laboratories.
Dr. Tucker disclosed that currently awareness is ongoing to educate citizens about the danger of cancer and how to diagnose it earlier and its prevention.
The Liberian medical doctor said that currently, the country has two cancer diagnosis places both at the C.B. Dunbar in Gbarnga, Bong County and at the Redemption Hospital on the Bushrod Island suburb of Monrovia.
The Ministry of Health cancer director indicated that results from those two locations will determine whether they will establish screening centers at the Redemption Hospital in the Bushrod Island suburb of Monrovia and the C.B. Dunbar Hospital in Bong County and at various health facilities in Liberia.
Among the various types of cancer, Cervical cancer is the most popular cancer followed by breast cancer and they have begun treatment to prevent cervical cancer targeting nine years girl children across Liberia.
Dr. Tucker added that currently, the government is focusing on early and proper screening.
He has therefore, recommended that the government of Liberia needs to make more funding available to cater to cancer care because cancer care is expensive which many cancer patients cannot afford at the end result, they died.
Dr. Tucker also recommended that the government purchases cancer drugs since most who are affected of cancer are unable to purchase the drug of their own due to its high cost.
He further wants government to subsidize the cancer drugs and send more doctors for training in cancer.
He is also calling for boosting cancer-awareness efforts by Civil Society Organizations, health facilities including the media to educate citizens on the cancer disease.
Dr. Tucker wants the government to establish technical working groups to involve everyone.