Grace Kwinjeh
6 August 2008
Kigali — Rwanda does not have even one medical oncologist, surgery oncologist or radio-therapists and has only two mammograms; meaning those who suffer from cancer die a slow and painful death, The New Times has learnt with shock.
One of these unfortunate victims of circumstances is 46 year old Juliet (her real name withheld) of Bugesera district.
Juliet's heart wrenching story spans almost two decades when she first was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1990.
Juliet's plight was brought to the attention of The New times by Christine Rusagara (the wife of Brigadier General Frank Rusagara), herself a cancer survivor.
Juliet is the bread winner for her family further complicating an already unfortunate story, or her dire situation moving from bad to worse after her sister Collette (not her real name) was also diagnosed with uterine cancer in 2004.
Meaning Juliet has had to stop her own treatment in support of her sisters' in Uganda's Mulago Hospital. Juliet is now denied the chemotherapy she so much needs.
Unlike Juliet, Christine had good treatment in Chennai, India. She was lucky to have had the resources to go all the way to India for treatment.
"Juliet and perhaps scores of other Rwandans are dying a slow death but with much help they can survive," says Rusagara, who is now coordinating the Breast Cancer Initiative East Africa Rwanda, (BCIEAR).
The organization seeks to raise awareness on cancer related issues, advocate for the adoption of a cancer policy by government and document information of those suffering from cancer.
For Juliet she gave The New Times, an account number they have opened, 10883711011-2, with Access Bank, for readers and concerned citizens to make donations.
"A little help will go a long way for Juliet to go back to hospital, pay for her transport and maybe like us all survive," Rusagara appeals.
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It is extremely sad to hear about Juliet's case,being close relative to a cancer patient and survivor I know what she and her family are going through.All I can say is we all have a hand in fighting cancer today and we pray that us the youth be the ones to even fight harder by being tomorrow's doctors,pharmacists so that we can help our fellow country men. I end by saying that please good samaritans come to Juliet's plight,and I pray hopefully that she'll get better.