Private health stakeholders are lobbying the Minister of Health to make cancer a mandatory reportable disease in Trinidad and Tobago. This as cancer remains a leading cause of death, but there is no official data on local cases. Rynessa Cutting has more from the U Health and Wellness Exposition.
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00:15Private sector health stakeholders are calling on the Ministry of Health to realize the following priority items.
00:23Two urgent priorities, the need for a modern, comprehensive cancer patient registry and the importance of innovative treatments and improving cancer outcomes.
00:35This as cancer remains one of the leading causes of death among persons with non-communicable diseases.
00:42However, there is no record of the number of persons with the disease.
00:46We need to, first of all, effect a policy where it's mandatory reportable. That means cancer being a mandatory reportable disease.
00:53Not only in the public sector, but the private sector.
00:56So that allows us to get the information.
00:59When we get all of that information, it allows us to understand what we're dealing with in our population.
01:04So I will not tell you in the U.S. this is what's happening, in Canada that's what's happening.
01:08I can tell you in Trinidad and Tobago, this is what we're seeing.
01:11Where are we seeing it? Is it in PRCO? Is it in Maraval? Where is it?
01:14So that allows us to detect which race, which ethnicity.
01:18You know, we have to look at all of those factors and what were the risk factors of that patient to be able to better plan and effect proper policy and treatment strategies for cancer in Trinidad and Tobago.
01:29As such, it cannot be said with certainty whether cancer cases are on the decrease or increase.
01:36We are seeing that the numbers have not changed drastically in terms of bringing down the incidence.
01:41Incident means the number of new cases, and therefore, we know we still have work to do.
01:46This is where screening comes in, because if you have early detection, you reduce the financial burden of treatment.
01:52We have to understand what our health system is about.
01:54It's a social health system. It's one where it's free, practically, to the public.
01:58And the cost of treating a cancer patient, just one, is almost, if not more, half a million Trinidad and Tobago dollars.
02:05Chairman of the Cancer Society, Robert Dumas, is encouraging everyone to get screened, especially males.
02:13It's very important. Please get checked.
02:15Dr. LeBlanc was the first that led me through a position of fear to go and get checked.
02:21And it's a painless and effortless exercise, and it's a need to get done.
02:26Men, please go and get checked. Women, get checked.
02:29It's the first time. Early detection. If it's detected early enough, it can be treated.
02:34Lifestyle is also a major factor in preventing cancer.
02:38So, in general, I tell people, when they are at risk, or maybe not even, we want to try to stay away from a lot of processed foods.
02:45Because of the additives and stuff, yes, oxidative stress is a big thing, free radicals,
02:49except simple things like burning olive oil, extra virgin olive oil, can't produce free radicals.
02:53So, it's very important to have proper consultations and information from a registered professional,
03:00rather than just getting it off the internet.
03:02Renessa Cutting, TV6 News.
03:06This segment was brought to you by Superfarm, your prescription of trust.
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