Benchmarking From The Best; Rotary Club of Thika Draws Lessons From The Uganda Cancer RUN
“…We appeal to everyone not to grow weary in this fight against cancer, but to soldier on til we conqur. Invite a friend to join in this noble cause and together, let’s fight the Cancer Scourge in Africa…”
According to International Agency for Research on Cancer under the World Health Organization (WHO) there are an estimated 811,000 new cases of cancer and 527,000 deaths associated with the scourge each year in Sub-Saharan Africa. This incidence is expected to double by 2040 to more than 1.6Million cases annually due to population growth and aging.
As African governments and specialists mount a response to the growing cancer epidemic, Rotary clubs in the region are now leading on the forefront with a collaborative project to mobilize resources for the proposed establishment of a regional center of excellence on Cancer. The proposed center would give diagnostic, treatment, care and support services in addition to serving a regional pathology review center, center for clinical trials and regional statistic center for Oncology.
It’s against this background that the Rotary Club of Thika conducted a road trip to Uganda to attend the 8th Edition of the Rotary Cancer Run on 25th August 2019, at Kololo Independence Grounds, organized by Rotary clubs of Uganda to break ground for the construction of bunkers needed for the installation of Linear Accelerators at local hospitals. A Linear Accelerator is a modern cancer treatment machine. The Uganda Rotary clubs has been on a mission to raise funds to set up a cancer treatment Centre for the last 8 years.
District Governor Otin flags off the trip from Kenya to Uganda at Limuru Sports Club, Kenya
District Governor Joe Otin flagged off the auspicious Event at Limuru sports club on the evening of August the 22nd, a trip that was represented by 22 members from Rotary club of Thika, Thika west, Nairobi-Thika road club, Murangá, Nithi, Karen, Karengata, Kilifi, Machakos, Ruiru and Rotaract club of Ngong.
After a successful Journey, the team was well received by the counterparts- Rotary club of Kyambogo. During the stay, the visiting Rotarians learned a lot at the rotary cancer Centre and at the historical site at Buganda Kingdom. The center piece of this trip was 21 Kms and 10Kms run, which was well participated by the team. Approximately 1.6Billion Shillings have been raised so far from the previous three runs since 2015.
A stop over during the road trip
The trip to Uganda was a bench marking mission with a vision of breaking ground on the establishment of a Modern Cancer Centre in Kenya, pioneered and sponsored by Rotary Clubs in Kenya. The Cancer Centre is aimed at reducing the cancer burden in the country.
By Joyce Kamau, PR Director – Rotary Club Of Thika
