Even before Ugandans come to terms with the harsh realities of HIV/Aids, another shocking fact has emerged. The Pearl of Africa has the highest cancer rates in the world. According to research from the Uganda Cancer Institute (UCI) and Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Centre in the US, the first case of cancer in Uganda was diagnosed in 1960s. In a media briefing, Dr Jackson Orem director Uganda Cancer Institute, lamented that the HIV epidemic is among the leading causatives of cancer. in the developing world, Uganda inclusive and the most affected are women and children. "Uganda has among the highest cancer rates in the world, yet limited resources for patient diagnosis and care are available. This makes Uganda's cancer survival rate just 10 percent," Dr Orem said. "The trend threatens to undermine the young and productive segment of Africa's population and thus improving cancer survival rates especially among children is essential," said Dr Orem. Research done by the UCI reveals that in 2008, the country had only one oncologist, and Mulago hospital was receiving about 10,000 cancer cases annually, most of which in there late stages.
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