Over 400 Makerere University students assembled in the Freedom Square on Sunday 23^rd October 2016 to participate in the Breast Cancer Awareness Run.

The Breast Cancer Awareness Run kick started the “MAK Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign” organized by Makerere University 82^nd Guild Cabinet to disseminate information on breast cancer screening and treatment in several parts of Uganda.

A renowned local artist Mr. Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu aka Bobi Wine together with his wife Barbra Kyagulanyi, flagged off the Runners. The Mak Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign is also aligned to the commemoration of the National Breast Cancer Awareness month.

According to the Makerere University Guild President H.E Roy Ssembogga, the Mak Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign which is aligned to the commemoration of the National Breast Cancer Awareness month provides a platform to Makerere University students to join the fight against breast cancer, encourage people to go for cancer screening and to train them on self breast cancer check up and monitoring.

“Statistics from the Uganda Cancer Institute supported by the World Heath organizations show that for every 1000 women, 45 do have breast cancer. The statistics show that the burden is going to continue and increase to the third world countries like Uganda with no strategic cancer treatment plan. Our aim therefore is to encourage people to go for the screening. Prevention is better than cure. It is important that people are diagnosed early and go for the treatment because cancer in its early stages is curable,” he said.

Highlighting the roll out of the screening exercise, the Guild President said:  “We will carry out cancer screening at the National Cancer Institute and at Makerere University Hospital. We also hope to extend the screening activity to Halls of residence so as to reach everyone. Screening is free and we vehemently invite people from outside to come and check for cancer,” he said.

Ssembogga said that they will extend the campaign to reach different people in several areas of Uganda under the umbrella of FACE OF MUK when he said, “our target in this campaign is to reach out to 10,000 people in the next five years. Therefore through Face of MUK initiative, we want to select an Ambassador who will lead a team of selected and well trained people to traverse the country disseminating information on breast cancer. The team will also provide cancer screening services to the people.”

The Vice Guild President, H.E Maria Ledochowska Nattabi added that the Ambassador will lead an awareness campaign in secondary schools and higher institutions of learning in Uganda.

Speaking to the chummy audience, Mr. Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu who was the Chief Runner, applauded Makerere University students for joining the rest of the world to create awareness on Breast Cancer.

 “I have been invited to such activities and events by elderly guys, NGOs, Government but today I am delighted to have been invited by young and energetic people to join hands and fight for a good cause,” the happy Kyagulanyi said.

He urged the participants to utilize their youthful age and make a positive impact in their societies. “These are times when you are most passionate about what you believe in. These are the times when you look at the future, these are times when you still have the time to shape the future. I want to challenge you to be more of critical thinkers. The leaders that are leading us today, never sat back because they knew that the future was supposed to be set by them. They gave their best contribution during their youthful years. This is your time to give your contribution,” he said.

In an interactive interview with the Makerere University Public Relations Office, Barbra Kyagulanyi called upon women and men, girls and boys to go for cancer screening. This bold step would help them to know their status as early as possible and take up the right measures.

“You cannot hide from a disease. If you have it that is the truth and this will never change. The earlier you know the better. It is not true that when you are diagnosed of cancer you will die tomorrow. There are high chances of surviving if it is detected in its early stages. Cancer takes on several stages, there is a stage where it is treatable, there is a stage where you can have a surgery and there is a stage that is beyond, so the longer time you take to go for a screen and know your status, the worse it becomes,” she explained.

The event was sponsored by Africell Uganda, Brussels Air line, Care Hearts-Uganda, Firebase Entertainment, Uganda Female Muslim Students’ Initiative among others.

Article by: Mak Public Relations Office