BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, Advocate - In the midst of the election fever heating up Barbadians, one noteworthy occasion passed with very little fanfare – World Cancer Day. Observed on February 4 every year, this year’s theme, “Together It Is Possible”, seeks to focus on screening and vaccination efforts across the globe.

As part of the information released to mark World Cancer Day, UN International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General, Yukiya Amano, said a shortage of about 5 000 radiotherapy machines in low- and middle-income countries means that hundreds of thousands of patients miss out on early diagnosis and treatment that could save their lives. He noted that the agency’s Programme of Action for Cancer Therapy (PACT) “as well as various other departments at the IAEA, have been working hard to try to make radiotherapy services available in all countries”.

Here in Barbados, screenings for cancer are available through both public and private health care services and there are even special drives for breast and prostate cancer to increase awareness and encourage more screenings.