Lending a hand in the fight against colorectal cancer |25 November 2023
The Health Care Agency has received a donation of 3500 fecal occult blood (FOB) test kits worth US $7,775, which will help with the ongoing national colorectal cancer screening programme.
This donation comes from a joint partnership between the Fregate Island Foundation and the Soroptimist International Club of Victoria.
A short ceremony was held yesterday at the Red Roof building in the presence of representatives of both partners and the Ministry of Health.
Presenting the donation, the vice-chairperson of the Fregate Island Foundation, Anna Zora, said colorectal cancer was a serious concern and early detection is key to successful treatment.
These kits designed for the screening of colorectal cancer are a vital contribution to the ongoing efforts of the Ministry of Health to enhance healthcare services, she added.
“Early detection can save lives and we believe that these kits will play a pivotal role in fostering a healthier and happier community,” she said.
The chief executive of the Health Care Agency, Dr Danny Louange, thanked the foundation and the Soroptimist International Club of Victoria.
“We truly appreciate that you have listened and responded to our call. This donation will help in early detection of this cancer, and as a result it will reduce the pressure on not only the Ministry of Health but the government and the economy in general,” Dr Louange added.
The Ministry of Health announced the programme in March 2022 and officially launched it in August 2022 on La Digue.
Through this programme, residents were offered FOB kits which are very practical and highly recommended for early cancer screening through collection of stool. Upon analysis of samples, if blood is picked up further tests are undertaken such as colonoscopy and gastroscopy to confirm the cause of the blood. As a result, this helps detect cases of colorectal cancer early on with an increasing chance of treatment.
Both, the Soroptimist International Club of Victoria and the Fregate Island Foundation recognise that supporting the Ministry of Health with these kits would be a valuable step towards the fight against cancer.
Text & photo by Mandy Bertin