Cancer Specialist Dr. Owen Gabriel is calling on the public to be proactive in taking cancer prevention and reduction measures rather than relying on Government to do so. Dr. Gabriel was speaking in the context of an announcement by the Caribbean Public Health Agency CARPHA rating cancer as the second leading cause of death in the region. Dr. Gabriel also called on local health organizations to synchronize their efforts in the fight against cancer rather than operating in isolation Consultant Oncologist Dr. Owen Gabriel says there is an overall strategy to deal with cardiovascular and cancer diseases. The debilitating effects of cancer are highly visible yet the plea to the public to take responsibility for their health seems to be falling on deaf ears especially among the vulnerable groups who cannot afford expensive cancer treatment. Many cancer victims are young people. Dr. Gabriel thinks it’s time that persons take proactive measures to prevent cancer. Basic physical exercises, avoiding smoking and reducing the consumption of certain foods are inexpensive ways to prevent cancer
Dr. Gabriel made the remarks in light of an announcement by the Caribbean Public Health Agency CARPHA that cancer is the second leading cause of death in the Caribbean. The information came from an international study which was published in a paper titled “Cancer Control in the Caribbean island countries and territories: some progress but the journey continues”. The publication notes that providing comprehensive cancer care is particularly challenging in the region because of the geographical spread of the islands, the under-resourced health-care systems, and the absence of a cohesive approach to cancer control. St. Lucia took part in the study. Dr. Gabriel led the regional group that dealt with cancer. He called on local health organizations to adopt a unified approach to the fight against cancer rather than operating in isolation.
The announcement is of grave concern to the St. Lucia Cancer Society especially with the country’s limited financial resources
Health Practitioners are hoping that members of the public and the health organizations will put their heads together in combating this disease
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