CANCER Voices Gh, a registered cancer group, has called on President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to save the nation from cancers and their related complications.

Making their case during this year’s May Day celebration, President of Cancer Voices Gh, Dr. Raphael Nyarkotey Obu, stated that the National Cancer Foundation must do more to save lives.

According to the group, “we proposed a National Cancer Foundation which must be a special project under the office of the First Lady.”

Dr. Nyarkotey Obu explained that setting up a National Cancer Foundation will go a long way to reduce the impact of cancer in the communities.

“It will improve cancer prevention through education and encourage early testing to improve treatment effectiveness; to provide funding for research into cancer and cancer related treatments.

“…and to provide meaningful paid work for individuals unable to gain positions elsewhere due to age, external obligations, mental or physical diabilities or social issues,” he asserted.

To establish awareness and screening centres in the various regions in the country, he stated that those ages affected by cancer should be placed on using the Livelihood Empowerment Project (LEAP) to provide a monthly token to support them.

The purpose of the National Cancer Foundation, according to him, will, among other things, provide accommodation and financial support for cancer patients, education and awareness for cancer prevention and research and equipment funding.

Dr Obu added that, the Foundation will further help to provide paid work for disadvantaged persons.

What the National cancer will do

National Cancer Foundation is a charitable organisation working to reduce cancer in the communities while assisting those already affected by cancer.

The objectives to be described in the constitution are: to educate and increase community awareness and understanding about cancer and the measures considered to reduce the risk and contribute to the prevention of cancer; to provide accommodation for cancer patients and/or their families during treatment periods, and to provide employment for disadvantaged individuals, whether from physical, psychological, sociological, financial or social causes

Others are to fund scientific and/or medical research to investigate prevention, causes and treatment of cancer; to provide financial assistance to cancer patients and/or their families for any purpose considered beneficial, whether physically or therapeutically, for their treatment or recovery; to fund the purchase of equipment to be used in research, diagnosis and/or treatment of cancer at hospitals, research institutions or treatment facilities; too help in implementing special cancer policies for the betterment of those diagnosed and concern about cancers, and; to help in disbursements of funds to all cancer charities in the country

The activities of the foundation, Dr. Nyarkotey Obu, hinted, will include stimulating discussion of cancer, and normalising it to reduce the stigma of talking openly about cancer.

“To also place small information stands in shopping centres and high traffic areas in some capital cities, offering information about cancer and the other programs to be offered,” he added.