The Guyana Cancer Society (GCS) hosted its annual fundraiser on Saturday evening at Project Dawn, Liliendaal, drawing attention to the urgent need for cancer detection and treatment, particularly for colon cancer.
Attended by several prominent health figures, including Health Minister Dr. Frank Anthony, the event highlighted the organization’s growing efforts in providing essential medical services and raised funds to support future initiatives.
The fundraiser, aimed at bolstering cancer awareness and early detection programs, also served as an expression of gratitude to the key partners who have supported the GCS’s efforts over the past two years, notably the Balwant Singh Hospital.
One of the key areas of focus during the event was the expansion of the GCS’s mammogram program.
Since its inception in 2022, the organization has made significant strides in helping women access critical breast cancer screenings.
Dr. Ejaz Hatim, Medical Coordinator of the GCS, noted that the organization initially offered 100 free mammograms in collaboration with Balwant Singh Hospital, but within hours, those spots were filled.
Since then, the GCS has provided over 600 mammograms, and the partnership with the hospital is continuing to grow.
“This year, we are offering another 100 free mammograms,” Dr. Hatim told the gathering on Saturday night, revealing that 40 women had already benefited from this service.
Slots remain available for women from across the country, and the partnership with the hospital continues to expand, giving more women access to life-saving screenings.
But the efforts of the GCS go beyond breast cancer. The organization is also screening men for prostate cancer and both men and women for HPV. In addition to outreach programs, a major initiative for the year is the promotion of colon cancer screening—a crucial service that has been largely unavailable in Guyana until recently.
Colon cancer has been a growing concern, with early detection being key to saving lives. However, access to colonoscopies has been limited, particularly for those unable to afford the procedure.
The Guyana Cancer Society is addressing this gap by offering 10 free colon cancer screenings this year.
“Each screening costs $50,000, and the Society is covering the total cost of $500, 000 for 10 people this year.
While the Balwant Singh Hospital does not yet offer CT colonoscopies, the GCS is working tirelessly to make this crucial screening available to more Guyanese.
The society is focused on changing the public perception that cancer is a death sentence, a sentiment echoed by Sharir Chan, Chief Operations Officer of Guyana Medical Relief and Founder of the Guyana Cancer Society and other attendees.
Since its launch in 2022, the GCS has achieved several milestones, including offering more than 600 free mammograms, 300 Pap smears, and 60 HPV tests.
Notably, seven women were referred for further treatment following positive mammogram results, and biopsies were performed in four cases, saving four lives. In addition, 20 positive Pap smear results were followed up, with ten percent of HPV tests returning positive.
The GCS also acknowledged the support it has received from the Ministry of Health, especially for providing necessary medical kits for screening programs. This partnership has been pivotal in advancing the society’s outreach initiatives, including its ongoing prostate cancer screening efforts, with a target of 100 men screened this year.
Despite the progress made, the call for increased support was a central theme of the evening.
The organization is committed to continuing its work in providing affordable and accessible cancer screenings to all Guyanese, but it cannot do so alone. Increased collaboration with both government and private partners is critical to expanding services and making cancer detection a priority in the country.
“We want to change the perception that cancer is a death sentence,” Chan emphasized. “With early detection and the right support, people can lead healthy, full lives. We are making strides, but there’s still so much more to be done.”
