There is an urgent need for local medical students to embrace specialist studies to qualify as oncologists, as there is a lack of specialists in this area in Fiji at the moment.
This was highlighted by Fiji Cancer Society Chief Executive Officer Belinda Chan during the World Health Day awareness event held at the Bayley Clinic in Lautoka.
Chan says there is only one qualified oncologist, and the demand for this medical speciality in Fiji has increased with the large number of cases diagnosed each year. She says the statistics are alarming, and cancer continues to be the third biggest killer in the country after heart disease and diabetes.
Chan stresses the event was a great success and acknowledged all stakeholders, sponsors, and students from the medical school for rendering their invaluable support. UPSMHS year five student Prashantika Prasad, who was one of the volunteers during the awareness programme yesterday says she was happy to assist the Fiji Cancer Society with cancer awareness and advocacy in the country. Prasad says she was surprised with the response from the members of the public who turned up in good numbers for checking, had first-time experience, and learned a lot from this event.
Fellow students Shifana Dean and Rinika Deo were also excited to be part of the awareness campaign and said they will be discussing their participation and proposal from the Fiji Cancer Society with their head of school.
