Health professionals are sounding the alarm that all forms of Cancer are on the rise in Dominica and factors which influence the dreaded disease are being ignored.
An increase of awareness campaign is now in effect on the island.
“We have decided to increase the awareness of Cancer in our society because Cancer is on the rise in all shapes and form in our lovely Dominica,” Director of Primary Health Care Services, Dr. Charlotte Jeremy-Cuffy, said.
She stated that there are many risk factors which causes cancer but they are being ignored in Dominica.
“These risk factors and determinants of health, these are the main causes of cancer,” she noted. “We have noticed that the number of cancer cases have increased, and the risk factors are ignored. People are not exercising, people are not taking in their fruits and vegetables, not eating properly, continuing to smoke and continuing to drink (alcohol).”
She revealed that between 2004 and 2013 the main cause of Cancer death among men were prostate, digestive organs (colorectal) and lung Cancer.
For women, breast, digestive organs (colorectal), stomach and cervical were the most common causes of Cancer death for the same period.
According to Jeremy-Cuffy, on a global scale 30 percent of Cancer deaths are due to five leading behavioral and dietary risks: high body mass index (obese), low fruit and vegetable intake, lack of physical exercise, tobacco and alcohol use.
She stated that early detection and screening can assist in treating and Cancer and she is urging all Dominicans to have themselves tested.
The 2015 campaign will focus on four areas: Choosing healthy lifestyles, delivering early detection, achieving treatment for all and maximizing quality of life.
Today, February 4, Dominica joins the rest of the world in observing World Cancer Day under the theme: Not Beyond Us.
Is the learned doctor aware of this?
Long exposure to tiny amounts of Monsanto’s Roundup may damage liver, kidneys – study — RT USA
http://www.rt.com/usa/313806-monsanto-roundup-kidney-damage/.
DDT (also produced by Monsanto) started killing Dominicans. Now Monsanto’s roundup has taken over.
Folks, just don’t use the damn pesticide.
Tru d,i totally agree with you.Back to the roots.The body has a way a curing itself if the immune system is strong.And to strengthen the immune system,you got to eat right.For a green place like Dominica,too much chemicals and junk is being pushed.These are the real drug dealers.It’s not too late,but we should start educating the children of the dangers of chemicals.I remember people use to laugh at Rasta for eating organic and staying away from chemicals,now all over the world, the money people know the good in eating right,no matter how much they have to spend….Ever hear of “Whole Foods”? It cost so much to try to live a healthy lifestyle.And in Dominica we can,so easily…All of us know of some friend who has passed away at a young age..Lets go ‘Back To The Roots”
Shaka zulu, I agree with you. I would like to get in touch with you. Im also involved in environmental work in Da and would like to build my network with proffesionals in the same field.
I have long been ridding a train called ‘GOING BACK TO OUR ROOTS EXPRESS’; it is free and by the way, there are no microwaves, household sprays, white flour, white sugar, plastic utensils, and nothing that flies, creeps, or swims on board.
Eliminate everything cancerous from Dominica’s environment. It’s that simple…. OR implement strategies to discourage people from consuming cancerous products. Eg. Raising tax on cigarettes and alcohol. Encourage more investment into the agricultural sector, eat what you grow grow what you eat, grow it healthy. This is the nature island of the WORLD not just the Caribbean.
By the way, can Dr. Jeremy-Cuffy provide us with some figures to substantiate the statement that cancer is on the rise in Dominica? Anecdotal stuff is all well and good, but without statistics, that means little or nothing.
All these garbage that you all keep talking to people. I don’t understand why you all won’t just keep you all clappers shut instead of following these drug heads from these advance nations and just speaking debris .
There are folks from these well to do nations that eat all the ve-ge- ta-bles. Organically grown, gluten free, and they still come down with some form of cancer.
What the people need to hear and to know is that, when the CREATOR ( yours and mine). JAHOVAH the one and only almighty GOD is ready to call a person out off here, no food,no drink, no behavior,or non-behavior can stand in the way.
End- of- the- story…..
Baygon had the same deadly effect
Tell the pastor and the Prime Minister to change the name of another mountain, that will cure it!
Poultry from the USA is not sold in Europe because it is dipped is chlorine to kill any bacteria. Also chorine is not used in drinking water in Europe because it is deemed to be a cancer causing agent. Why then is chlorine being used in drinking water in Dominica?
Dominicans breakfast, bakes fry chicken and coca cola…Wow! and that’s all the bar restaurants sell to eat…
And do you all know what is in these little vienna sausages that are so popular here, or the frankfurters that you all love to eat, never mind the hamburgers we import…honestly, you really don’t want to know!
But that was the breakfast of our parents and grandparents and they lived a long life. If you ask any of our centurions their breakfast of choice and they will name the above. Its all the other junk we eating that causing this , we too lazy to walk anymore, only take food everyday. People go back to basic and we will see the results
Your grandparents and parents must be very modern. Mine ate breadfruit, dasheen and sweet potato toasted on the coal pot in the morning and a cup of cacoa tea. Today my mother mixes her farine and pear instead of bread. THAT is nature island food.
Finally! The FDA Admits That Nearly Over 70% of U.S. Chickens Contain Cancer-Causing Arsenic. (Google it)
Interestingly, this FDA test and report was done in 2011, but even more interesting to note that “Alpharma decided to voluntarily suspend sale of 3-Nitro and to facilitate an orderly process for suspending use of the product in the United States”.
Doesn’t this terminology insinuate the exemption of chicken exported to other countries like Dominica?
Remember gramoxzone, the highly toxic weedkiller otherwise known as paraquat. It is prohibited in more than 40 countries including Switzerland, the home country of Syngenta, the main manufacturer, yet it is still used in Dominica today.
Would Dr. Jeremy-Cuffy conduct a test to see what the long-term effect on the men (and their families) who were hired to spray bananas? Also, if they have died, what was the cause of death?
A wise person can learn more from a foolish question than a fool can learn from a wise answer.
That is why for some time now, I have stopped eating ALL foreign meet. It’s all local for me, but looks like I may have to reconsider that soon too, based on what I’m hearing.
Becoming a vegetarian or vegan doesn’t sound so bad anymore, with food from my own little plot, under MY control.
Hmmm. What about the latest study by John Hopkins which revealed that cancer is often times a case of bad luck, having to do with gene mutation etc. The study revealed that people who do all the right things, eat better, exercise etc had in most cases the same chances of developing certain forms of cancer as obese, not exercising, eating junk people. I am all for lifestyle changes but the identified factors by the Dir. Of PH is so lacking, its not yet even touching the tip of the iceberg. One of my biggest concerns is processed foods and chemical additives, including flavoring and color. We dump maggi cubes in everything we make because “it gives flavor” … We need to do so much educating to change the mindset of our ppl. They buy chicken at Save A Lot cause things are hard. When ilness hits, things will be harder. Bread and cheese or butter didn’t kill you when were a child, stop packing crap food in the kids snack bags.
Of course it is rising. NASA is chemically spraying from planes in the air at an increasing rate.. People are burning carcinogenic substances such as plastics, tires and paper products. The farmers and public are wontonly using herbicides and pesticides which are contaminating the environment, food, and water. Garbage processed foods are being imported for mass consumption which contain substances that lead to disease e.g. hormone chicken.
A ban for chemtrails needs to be instituted as well as a ban on most burning except for agricultural. But people love that Kentucky Fried Chikcen.
Look into the use of Roundup in this country. It has been proven to contribute to various cancers and other diseases. We need to ban the use of this product and others that do the same damage to the population.
http://truth-out.org/news/item/28856-monsanto-s-roundup-enough-to-make-you-sick
Never mind Roundup, what about that terrible gramazone I understand is till being sold here.
They are both bad. Gramasone is more outwardly deadly. Round-up takes a little long to kill mostly via cancer.
or the vehicle exhaust that we breathe in everyday.
Also they forgot to mention, stress brought on by Employers in the work place due to the fact that there are few jobs in Dominica.
Having been personally affected by cancer this hits home. I am also privileged to work in environmental consulting and is aware that environmental factors are also one factor not mentioned above. There should be a joint effort by the ministries of health, environment, and education. There are tons of chemicals we have used in the past, especially in farming that may have lingering effects. Growing up in Dominica I never knew what an MSDS (material safety data sheet) was. We had the spray planes spraying pesticides and herbicides for years over our bananas. The effects of the intensity and duration of exposure are yet to be know n. I remember the indiscriminate removal and disposal of asbestos containing compounds from PSS. There are lost of us out there who can help implement a comprehensive strategy with our experience. I am willing to help free of charge. This is about future generations and the health of our country. Let’s take action. Put a separate ad on DNO requesting…
I did some research and found out that the spray planes were designed for very large banana farms like those in South America and must be away from water sources. We all know how it was done. We all know how chlorine was applied to our water tanks. Its a lot more than just diet and exercise. I would hate to see us focus on one aspect and not consider others while the problem persist. It will require detail records review and a comprehensive review of chemical waste, usage, storage, and/disposal, land use…..etc.