Dear Editor ,
In his speech to mark Cancer Awareness Month in October 2005, Minister of Health, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy indicated that the government was then “unable to provide local radiotherapy services for cancer sufferers”. He stated that the Ministry of Health had signed an agreement with Global Imaging Services of Chicago to “provide a comprehensive radiotherapy programme”.

Cancer prevention rather than cure would require a significant life style change to the Guyanese populace such as reduced alcohol, cigarette and salt consumption and a healthier diet.  A cancer awareness programme, particularly in the rural areas of Guyana would be more cost effective on the national budget compared to a radiotherapy programme.  One difficulty with living in the rural areas of Guyana is the lack of primary care facilities to diagnose cancer. Local medical practitioners seem oblivious to the symptoms and local laboratory facilities do not seem to have proper screening indicators.

In order to raise awareness of cancer in the Corentyne, there will be a Cancer Awareness for Rural Education (CARE) seminar at the Drepaul Memorial Academy.   The CARE seminar will try to educate locals how to recognise the early signs of the various forms of cancers.  A children’s cricket  festival is also being sponsored by Anne Drepaul (nee Kennard) of Bush Lot Farm, Corentyne, who has recently been  diagnosed with cancer.   The public is asked to support the CARE programme and a Cancer Awareness Cricket Match by donating flowers and plants to create a special garden (Anne’s Garden) in recognition  that the ultimate cure for cancer may  be found in nature, maybe even the rainforests of Guyana.
Yours faithfully,
Robert S. Drepaul