T&T has one of the highest rates of cancer in the Caribbean says Sherine Mungal, managing director of EIDETIC Limited, the communication agency for the T&T Cancer Society.
“Statistics today show that the mortality rates and diagnosis rates in Trinidad and Tobago are among the highest in the Caribbean. About four months ago, BBC actually conducted a report and Trinidad and Tobago was at position four in the world per capita when it comes to prostrate cancer, so it is very prevalent in men,” she told the T&T Guardian yesterday during an interview at the T&T Cancer Society’s annual Health Fair and Family Day at CIC’s Grounds, St Clair.
Commenting on the work of the Cancer Society, which has been the local voice against cancer in T&T for the past 47 years, Mungal said: “Their objective has always been to promote prevention through screening, so the Society not only does promotion and educational programmes, they also offer screening services as well.”
She said a health and wellness component was added to the family day this year where health related companies from across the country were invited to showcase their products and services.
“We have about 15 companies such as an AA Laquis booth. There is Maritime Finance, Ferreira Optical, Precision Cataract is here. They are all going to be offering screening services. Blue Waters is also taking part. There is also a new company, Clinitech, which is offering medical equipment,” she said.
Mungal said the Cancer Society took a new direction this year.
“We launched an education campaign earlier this year called I Care Because Cancer Doesn’t and the objective with that is to target young people and let them be the voice against cancer. Our message is straight to them where we do school symposiums,” she said.
She advises people to cut back on their excessive consumption habits if they do not want to fall victim to cancer.
“A lot of the cancer cases that exist today are based on lifestyle. Take precaution by not smoking and by reducing consumption of alcohol,” Mungal said.