More campaigning called for to prevent cancer
More campaigning called for to prevent cancer
JAKARTA (JP): The government yesterday called for a more
concerted campaign to prevent the incidence of cancer in
Indonesia, which if unchecked, could impose a heavy financial
burden on the society as a whole.
Coordinating Minister of People's Welfare Azwar Anas, said at
the conference of the Indonesian Cancer Foundation (YKI), that
although cancer ranks only ninth among fatal diseases in
Indonesia, more and more people are dying of the disease.
He pointed out that within the Association of Southeast Asian
Nations (ASEAN), which includes wealthier countries like Brunei,
Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand, as well as the Philippines and
Indonesia, cancer ranks third among fatal diseases.
Azwar said treating cancer is costly, and imposes a heavy
financial burden on the relatives of the patient, and eventually
the society at large, and the country.
He acknowledged the correlation between economic development
and rising health problems, and in the case of cancer, it is
related to cigarette smoking and air pollution.
The campaign to promote a healthier lifestyle should therefore
come from various fronts, including through education and
environmental protection.
Outgoing YKI chairperson Karlinah Umar Wirahadikusumah, the
wife of the former vice president Umar Wirahadikusumah, said the
foundation spends an average of Rp 17 million each month on free
medication for cancer patients who cannot afford the treatment
costs.
The foundation also offers subsidized medicine.
Karlinah said budget constraints have forced the foundation to
support only patients whose illnesses are curable. "We want to do
more, but we are facing funding problems," she said.
She deplored the lack of awareness about the risk of cancer
among the people despite the foundation's campaign. "Many people
come to hospitals when their cancer has reached a critical
stage."
Karlinah singled out smoking as the major cause of cancer and
said that people's awareness of the risks of smoking is very poor
in spite of the vigorous anti-smoking campaigns by the government
and other private institutions.
Many smokers do not even care that the smoke they exhale also
affects non-smokers, she said.
The YKI conference, which is participated in by
representatives from the foundation's branches throughout the
country, will elect YKI's new chairperson. (par)