Cancer is destructive, threatening every single country, claiming thousands of lives each year and impacting the lives of countless others. Cancer isn’t an easy thing to talk about, but it’s incredibly important to be aware of the impacts and the ways you can detect and even reduce the chances of getting cancer. The World Health Organisation is making it their mission to ‘close the care gap’ this year focusing on uniting our voices and taking action. Because the more we share new ideas and keep the conversation going, we can achieve almost anything.
At the Sir Brian Bell Foundation, we’re on the same page and are working with many special organizations and individuals to put an end to preventable cancers in our communities such as Sir Brian Bell Centre for Transfusion Medicine, we’re committed to collecting blood donations for those affected by cancers and performing mini health checks. Grass Skirt Project – GYMBOX, combining a sport and wellness centre to get our bodies active and moving while also providing health and nutrition advice and Queenpads which teaches women about menstrual hygiene and how to notice menstrual changes which can signify cancer. We’re also committed to supporting communities through health and education and connecting people to the right health information in the hopes of preventing some types of cancer.
The most common types of cancer in Papua New Guinea are breast, lip, oral cavity, cervix, uterine, liver and prostate. The good news is that in most cases, these types of cancer (and others) can be prevented. Some easy ways you can look after yourself and help prevent cancer include avoiding chewing betel nut, smoking tobacco, eating unhealthy foods, binge drinking and failing to exercise. We will continue to work alongside Papua New Guinea Cancer Foundation to minimise the impact cancer has on our communities, you can check out a range of cancer awareness resources on their website.
“Remember, your body is your business. If you notice any changes in your health—even small things—talk to a medical health professional and schedule regular check-ups. It just might save your life” commented Sir Brian Bell Foundation CEO Bronwyn Wright.
This World Cancer Day (Feb 4th), we’re calling on you, whoever and wherever you are, to play your part in creating a cancer-free world. What will you do to close the gap in cancer care? You can start by sharing this post with your friends to spread the word!
Union for International Cancer Control (UICC)
World Cancer Day 2022-2024 “Close the Care Gap”
This World Cancer Day, we recognise the power of working together.
We know that every single one of us has the ability to make a difference, large or small, and that together we can make real progress in reducing the global impact of cancer. This 4 February, we call on you, whoever and wherever you are, to play your part in creating a cancer-free world. This World Cancer Day, what will you do to close the gap in cancer care.
2023: Uniting our voices and taking action.
As our campaign continues, we will join with like-minded people because we know that we are stronger when we are united. We will celebrate real-world progress in its many forms and allow that momentum to fuel our fight for fairness. We’ll do more than spread the word—we’ll shout it from the rooftops. We’ll build stronger alliances and innovative new collaborations. Our actions can take countless forms: motivating neighbours to provide transport to cancer treatment for a fellow resident or ensuring that healthy and affordable food options are offered at the local school. We’ll mobilise our friends, family, co-workers, and communities because we know that together we can achieve almost anything.