| The Cancer Awareness Steering Committee in Anguilla, with the support of Digicel, is observing October as Cancer Awareness Month, with the slogan being “Think Pink – Make a Difference.” |
Digicel’s Country Manager in Anguilla, John Gidharry, said his company had undertaken to partner with the Committee for a number of reasons noting that breast cancer was affecting both women and men. “What we will do for the month of October, is that for every Digicel BlackBerry 8520 handset sold, we will donate $40 to the Cancer Society and will match that amount,” he said. “Digicel will support this venture whether persons subscribe to the postscript or pre-paid package. We will make sure that we make these donations at the end of October. We also pledge to support the Cancer Society in all of its endeavours, and how we actually plan to participate moving forward will be explained at a later date.” Mr. Gidharry said Digicel was looking into the possibility of purchasing mammogram equipment in order to assist health personnel to carry out tests for cancer. “We have asked for quotations on equipment and based on that we will make a decision how we may participate,” he added. Senior Health Educator, Jennifer Gumbs, who is also Chairperson of the Committee, note that it comprised some fifteen members from the public and private sectors as well as cancer survivors. She said the cancer awareness campaign was launched in May this year, and that various organisations had undertaken to adopt a particular campaign dealing with various types of cancers, thus contributing much to the effort of her group. She stated that the Committee was also looking into prostate cancer. Mrs. Gumbs was grateful to Digicel for its assistance with breast cancer awareness during the month of October. “I am appealing to the public to support this venture because it is not really about just making money – it is about supporting others who are afflicted by cancer,” she said. The Senior Health Educator said the Committee was working in the schools to encourage healthy lifestyles. She praised the Alwyn Allison Primary School at West End for its active involvement and invited other schools to follow suit. President of the Anguilla Community College, Professor Delroy Louden, said that prior to coming to the island he had been able to establish contact with certain sources of grants, with links to cancer epidemiology, which may be helpful to Anguilla. What I am hoping to do, through the Anguilla Community College, is to facilitate the Anguilla Cancer Society to the wider international network with respect to cancer treatment, prevention and knowledge.” He remarked that at a recent meeting at the Princess Alexandra Hospital, a cancer 101 curriculum was outlined for adoption in Anguilla. He reported that he has had contacts with the National Institute in the United States, and the Fox Chase Cancer Centre, as well as individual specialists in oncology to provide assistance to the Anguilla Cancer Society. He added that he was also working with local doctors to set up a registry of cancer patients to provide the necessary data about the disease on the island. “What we are hoping to do as a college is to help form a resource centre where there can be substantial material not just for treatment and prevention, but nutrition and dieting as well,” he told his listeners. He explained that this would be undertaken through another organisation called the African Caribbean Cancer Consortium associated with Fox Chase Cancer Centre in Philadelphia.This information was well received by the Cancer Awareness Steering Committee as these linkages will provide much assistance to its efforts. |
