September 16 - 30 , 2017 PHILIPPINE ASIAN NEWS TODAY 11
Coalition is bent ... FROM PAGE 7
epidemic .
Hold your breath , cancer is the second leading cause of death globally , with approximately 70 percent of deaths occurring in low- and middle-income countries . Here in the country most of us know someone who has the disease , or have family members who are battling it .
This is why the Cancer Coalition Philippines , a broad national coalition of cancer patient support organizations , medical societies , and health advocates , cited the latest data from the Philippine Cancer Facts and Estimates ( PCS-DOH- PCHRD ) which showed an increase in the incidence of cancer . We had a hearty , healthy lunch with the coalition and learned more about the disease ( which incidentally claimed my dearest Sonny almost 13 years ago ).
“ Our numbers here in the Philippines translate to around 11 new cases and seven deaths every hour for adult cancers , and around 11 new cases and eight deaths per day for childhood cancer . Many more remain uncounted , unrecorded , and unreported . With this data , we hope Congress sees cancer as an urgent health concern that needs legislative action now to address the different gaps in the cancer control program ,” shared Kara Magsanoc- Alikpala , the coalition co-chair . She is herself a survivor and is the “ face ” of the coalition .
The coalition acknowledges that the multiple challenges in the current cancer control program should be addressed by looking from the lens of the entire cancer continuum of prevention , detection , correct diagnosis , early and proper treatment , survivorship , and palliative care .
“ We believe the proper response to this urgent health issue should be an integrated approach , to cover all aspects of cancer care , at the same time , national in scope so that no cancer patient will be left behind ” added Carmen Auste , a coalition member .
A number of legislators , among them Senators JV Ejercito and Sonny Angara and Representatives Alfred Vargas ( 5th Dist QC ), Karlo Nograles ( 1st District Davao ), Jericho Nograles , ( PBA Partylist ), Chiqui Roa Puno ( 1st District Antipolo City ), and Bernadette Herrera-Dy ( BH Partylist ) have filed versions of a national integrated cancer control act .
A salient provision of the bill seeks to create a Cancer Assistance Fund ( CAF ) of up to R30 billion to support the medical and treatment assistance programs for patients . “ The financial burden can be overwhelming , given that financial risk protection mechanisms are limited and patients often need to shell out money from their own pockets to pay for treatment and other costs ,” added Dr . Rachel
Rosario , a coalition member . Added Daisy Cembrano , another coalition member , “ There is a high incidence of treatment non-compliance and abandonment due to high out-of-pocket payment in relation to the financial capacity of patients and their families .”
Dr . Ramon Severino , the coalition co-chair explains that “ a comprehensive national cancer plan is long overdue . We need more pathologists , we need more oncologists . We have limited nurses trained in oncology . Our cancer centers are mostly located in Metro Manila , and some big cities . When you all add this up , and compare it with the number of cancer cases , then you will see why we need to act now .” His good news for the day , “ Cancer in many cases , is preventable ”
As a side , I renewed old ties with Dr . Severino who has been with the East Avenue Medical ( EAMC ) for many years . He works with children with cancer there and has seen the horrors of the disease and its impact on their families — financially , physically , and emotionally . He and the late Dr . Abesamis of the EAMC , and my sister Ma . Paz Weigand , a cancer survivor , set up the Kapisanan ng May K ( Kanser ) there . As he reminded us , cancer cuts through all economic and social classes , ages , and genders .
He reminisced about the time Cory Aquino , when she was no longer president ( but still not a cancer patient herself ) visited the hospital and asked him about their needs . He toured her around and later she donated the slide and other playground equipment and toys of her apos Josh and Bimby .
We also met at the lunch that the coalition hosted , retired army nurse Fe Ea who is a volunteer in the fight again cancer . She is an operating room nurse and does work in hospitals where her skills are needed . Amazing woman !
If the bill gets the nod of Congress , and we really hope and pray Congress reacts intelligently , compassionately and quickly , a Cancer Care Infrastructure and Service Delivery Network will be set into motion , where Regional Cancer Care Centers will be strengthened or set up , with the capability of making available and accessible , high quality cancer services such as screening , diagnosis , optimal treatment and care , and supportive and palliative care , supported by welltrained team with proper equipment . The regional cancer centers will likewise provide for separate units and facilities for children and adolescents with cancer . The bill also will push for oncology-related academic curricula for higher educational institutions ( HEIs ).
Oliver Calasanz , another coalition member shared that cancer survivors are also almost left alone after being declared cancer-free . “ They still need support .
Some are left without jobs , and they see the world differently as they become more cautious .” In the current version of the bill , all legislators are unanimous in wanting to extend people with disability ( PWD ) benefits to cancer survivors .
“ We need to prioritize cancer now . Because in the current set up , we already see so many gaps . Imagine what can happen by 2030 when it is projected by World Health Organization ( WHO ) that cancer cases will increase by 80 percent more in developing countries like the Philippines . That will really put so much strain on our health systems . So we hope Congress passes the National Integrated Cancer Control Act now , so we start to see an increase in survivorship and improved health outcomes for Filipinos with cancer ,” added Paul Perez the coalition spokesperson . Paul ’ s son Steve had leukemia at three years old but he licked the Big C and is now a healthy 13- year-old studying at the Ateneo de Manila
University .
Dr . Chit Reodica , the first woman Department of Health ( DOH ) secretary was in also in the forum and she pledged her full support to the coalition ’ s goals . With a power-pack cast of dedicated supporters , we can only see a bright future for this bill !
We also met Lani Eusebio board member of “ I Can Serve ” who has had several cancers but continue to be bright and cheery and still works at a regular job as a human relations manager . This is what Kara Alikpala wants to put across — cancer is not automatically a death sentence . One must fight for life surrounded by loving family and friends and live as normally as possible . All of the coalition members are happy and dedicated volunteers , survivors or have family members who have the Big C . Everyone is positive and hopeful that Congress will come through with the bill they need . ( mb . com )
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