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)