Local broadcaster NTV has today handed over a waiting shed to the Uganda cancer institute, UCI at Mulago National Refferal hospital in memory of late Rosemary Nankabirwa, a former News anchor at the station who lost the battle to Adrenal Cortical Carcinoma (ACC) cancer, one year ago, today.
The shed was built by the money collected by NTV during a fundraising drive in March 2015, for Rosemary to get specialized treatment at Aga Khan Hospital Nairobi, where she would later pass on.
Speaking at the handover this afternoon, Agnes Konde, the NTV managing Director said; “The cancer plight in this country is very real. Over the years, we have seen an increase in the number of people diagnosed with cancer as compared to 50 years ago. This was brought even closer to home when one of our former distinguished news casters, Rosemary, was diagnosed. We felt the need to support her and her family by easing the financial burden that they had to bear.”
“We collected UGX134,501,252 of which UGX69,649,354 went towards a cancer cause. The Uganda cancer institute told us they needed a waiting shed as an immediate outstanding need. The balance, UGX64,851,898 was used to construct the waiting shed which we are handing over today. We thank all those who contributed and participated in the different fundraising initiatives,” Ms Konde added.
According to Jackson Orem, the Uganda Cancer institute Director, “Mulago hospital receives several patients from all over the country and outside of Uganda who have been diagnosed with cancer and are seeking treatment. While these patients are receiving treatment, their caregivers and loved ones have to wait. We did not have sufficient facilities to comfortably accommodate them.”
The late Nankabirwa’s mother, Mrs. Rebecca Kibirige thanked the public for listening to the call of her dying daughter, even when she lost the battle.
Uganda cancer institute receives 22,000 new cancer cases annually. Of these, 20,000 die within a year. Adrenal Cortical cancer (ACC), which killed Nankabirwa is a rare one caused by a cancerous growth in the adrenal cortex, which is the outer layer of the adrenal glands. The adrenal glands lie on top of the Kidneys. They play an important role in the endocrine system, which is the system that produces and regulates hormones. ACC is also known as adrenocortical carcinoma.
Uganda Cancer Institute says ACC is very rare, about one case is recorded every year. It is only curable when caught in stage 1.
