2019 was a productive year for the Dominica Cancer Society (DCS) and its president Yvonne Alexander said the society was finally able to complete their Strategic Plan.
The plan is set to assist in guiding the programs of the DCS and will focus on three Strategic Objectives for the next few years.
In an exclusive interview with Dominica News Online this week, Alexander said the plan is expected to strengthen interventions to facilitate early diagnosis, and access to treatment for those affected.
Once implemented it will also strengthen comprehensive treatment, care, and support for individuals diagnosed with cancer and their families, mobilizing adequate resources through fundraising and partnerships to sustain the implementation of activities of the DCS.
She said the DCS continues to focus on its three main areas of interest which involve the mobilization of financial resources, educating and advocating about cancer care and providing psycho-social support to survivors and their families.
Meantime Alexander pointed to several other activities which she said attributed to the major achievement including a Walk for Cancer Care, World Cancer Day and the Candle Light Vigil.
The DCS, she said, was also pleased to join the global community in observing World Cancer Day on Sunday, February 4th, 2019 under the Theme “I am and I Will Educate and Advocate for Cancer Care.”
She said new methods were also explored in reaching a wider cross-section of individuals affected by cancer.
In 2019, the Society observed its first-ever Prostate Cancer Awareness month in September.
“This took the form of weekly radio discussions on the topic as well as collaboration with medical practitioners and medical service providers to offer free or reduced-cost prostate screening services during the month of September,” she explained.
A “Men’s Health Forum” was also held on Saturday, September 21st in an effort to provide an opportunity for men to receive prostate health information from medical professionals who are experts in the field.
The DCS President said an Ostomy Support Group was formed stating that the Society was pleased to welcome and accommodate a monthly meeting of Ostomy survivors and supporters.
An Ostomy causes a change in the way urine or stool exits the body as a result of a surgical procedure.
“The purpose of the group is to provide advice and support to individuals using colostomies and urostomies and those caring for them,” Alexander told our newsroom.
But like every organization, the DCS faces a few challenges, including financial and human resource problems.
Alexander explained that the Society is heavily dependent on the generosity of the Government of Dominica, corporate partners, and the general public to finance its day to day operations.
“This limits the ability of the DCS to provide more frequent educational and outreach programmes, particularly targeting rural communities,” she said.
Despite these challenges, Alexander told us that the DCS was able to provide financial assistance in the amount of $EC129,755.00 to various individuals, to assist in meeting the cost of their treatment.
God has clearly said in His Word, Matt. 4:4 , Man does not live by bread only, but by every WORD that comes out of His mouth, does man live.
Having said this, I would like to say that diet and eating habits are not the only causes of this disease or any other disease/illness, since they only affect the NATURAL BODY, while external factors, such as dysfunctional homes, marital problems, financial strif, abuse, pride, umemployment, worry, bondages strongholds of all kinds and many others affect the SPIRITUAL BODY, that is the SOUL and SPIRIT. These external factors that I have mentioned, have nothing to do with the food we eat.
I would like to recommend that we begin by sensitizing/educating the nation on the body, soul and spirit issues, with a view to looking at the spiritual root causes of diseases, rather than managing the diseases.
I believe that money can be spent in that manner, and by extension we will have a healthier nation, full of God’s LOVE.
With all due respect to the efforts made at seeking funding to help those persons who are already affected, and God’s blessing to those who have contributed the funds, we the people need to UNDERSTAND firstly that we are, created in God’s image, BODY, SOUL and SPIRIT. Therefore, while it is important to take care of the Body, we also need to take care of the Soul and the Spirit.
I would like to say that finding the SPIRITUAL ROOT CAUSE of the disease is far better than MANAGING the disease, bearing in mind that 95% of the root cause of cancer is the SOUL and SPIRIT issues. God states in His Word, we should guard our heart, with due deligence, because therein lies ALL the ISSUES of life. It is our Life Style and circumstances/situation that are affecting our lives, causing negative stress and by extension one becomes ill. It is not necessarily the food only that are causing one to become ill.
Compliments to all persons/groups involved in directing help and advice towards saving persons from developing cancer and getting individuals healed from cancer especially toward persons who are directly affected by this, but facts do prove that mainstream cancer treatments(chemotherapy…)most times cause more harm to patients than good while there are alternative cancer cures that are proven to be effective without harm to patients, so a large percentage of funds which are raised toward cancer cure sould be directed towards scientific study and approval of these alternative cancer cures instead of continually directing funds and attention towards the same mainstream (medical industry)cancer treatments which cause more harm than good and alot of times they are fatal.
Kudos to the Dominica Cancer Society for its very progressive programme to sensitize Dominicans about matters pertaining to cancer. You deserve the strongest commendation for your efforts. We must support this Society and most of all heed the call for early screening and early treatment for cancer.
With all the research done on cancer where cannabis is concerned with real life LIVING testimonies of how cannabis treatments have helped with cancer (cured and treated cancer), has the Dominican Cancer Society done anything to approach the government on the development of a medicinal allowance for the use of cannabis and cannabis products for this purpose. Nature isle is denying natual cures and treatments based on fear (possibly greed and opportunism) in my opinion. Our neighbors have woken from their slumber and have seen not only the economic value but the social value as well. Why deny you own people something natural that can cure you? in 2020 there is now no excuse and the CANCER SOCIETY needs to realize that there is a natural cure and treatment for cancer here in dominica.