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{
    "id": 1272681,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1272681/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 136,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Chesumei, UDA",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Paul Biego",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "The nature of cancer is such that it progresses extremely slowly. It has been proven that years or decades may pass before one notices the symptoms. During that time, the cancer may go undetected. Therefore, screening programmes for detecting cancer at early stages are vital. At that time, treatment options are more effective. Therefore, we should all stand firm as a House and ensure that we establish the proposed fund so that we do not lose our loved ones to cancer. This Motion will especially help the vulnerable and the poor who are unable to go for check-ups. We know that there are many advertisements and promotions on cancer awareness that encourage people to go and check their status. However, the main problem is that many people are poor and cannot afford transport to health facilities. It is important for us to put this fund in place and take it closer to the people in the villages, so that it is easy for them to access preventive measures. As the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Gladys, contributed to the Motion, I was saddened because, as a country, we know the causes of cancer yet we still want to cure it instead of preventing it. Apart from creating the fund, we need to get rid of pesticides that have been proven to cause cancer. I join my colleagues who said that the PCPB should hasten the removal of the 267 pesticides that cause cancer and adopt other available options that have been proven to be harmless. Studies have shown that a majority of cancer patients are from farming areas, and that will slowly affect people living in towns because what is consumed in towns or in urban areas is from the rural areas. A majority of the people who live in rural areas consume food directly from their farms. That is probably why the study shows that a majority of them are affected. We all know that the sources of food that we eat are those same farms. So, the earlier, the better. That is why I stand here to support my great friend, Hon. Timothy, in the establishment of the proposed National Cancer Prevention and Control Fund. I want to go on record that this is long overdue. Former Members of Parliament tried to do this earlier, but their efforts did not see the light of day. Let us take this matter seriously, so that the 13th Parliament goes down in history as having assisted to prevent this menace. We know for sure that many diseases like HIV/AIDS have been contained because of prevention. Many other diseases have also been prevented. Let us take this opportunity to support the Motion, so that we can establish the proposed fund for prevention and control of cancer. Thank you very much and be blessed."
}