- Damion Mitchell photo
Hyacinth Franklin (centre), chairman of the Jamaica Reach to Recovery, speaking with Karen Turner, mission director of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and Earl Jarrett, chairman of the Jamaica Cancer Society (JCS) at Thursday's JCS annual luncheon at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel, New Kingston.
Damion Mitchell, Staff Reporter
THE JAMAICA Cancer Society (JCS) on Thursday launched a special foundation to assist with the provision of treatment for cancer survivors, but according to Earl Jarrett, the organisation's chairman, there is still the need for greater cancer awareness among Jamaicans.
The foundation, which has been established in memory of the late Pauline Brown, the founding member of the Society's Jamaica Reach to Recovery programme, was announced at the JCS's annual luncheon the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in New Kingston.
Mr. Jarrett told The Gleaner after the luncheon that although the JCS has being undertaking several initiatives to promote awareness about cancers, the organisation was restricted as it was operating within a $30 million budget.
The JCS chairman also noted that there was an inadequacy in the number of radiographers and radiologists locally to assist with screening of persons diagnosed with cancer.
PREVENTION OR CURE
Earlier, Karen Turner, mission director of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), told the more than 600 participants at the luncheon that more than 25 per cent, or just over 125,000 Jamaican women aged 25 to 54 who were considered most at risk of breast cancer, have never had a mammography to detect whether they were infected.
"Now more than ever before, early detection can mean either prevention or cure," Ms Turner said. "So be a friend and tell a friend. Your message may be a life saving one."
Pauline Brown, in whose memory the foundation has been established, was a 1985 breast cancer survivor who has played a lead role in JCS programmes. Already the foundation has raised just over $500,000, including the $101,000 raised at her funeral earlier this year.
A committee is to be established shortly to manage this foundation.
