• Shs20million given to rays of hope Hospice to boost palliative care in the region
• Many rural women in the region dying from cervical and breast cancer due to ignorance and poverty. Funds will be used for education and clinical services including early detection and treatment.
• In 2019, 33% of Rays of Hope Hospice enrolled women suffered from cervical cancer while 21% had breast cancer

The MTN Uganda Foundation has boosted Palliative care activities in Busoga sub-region with a shs20million cash donation.

The donation was handed over to the Executive Director Rays of Hope Hospice Jinja by the CEO MTN Uganda Wim Vanhelleputte during a brief ceremony at the MTN Uganda offices at Nyonyi gardens.

Rays of Hope Hospice is a non-governmental organization that provides palliative care to improve the quality of life for people with life-threatening illnesses and their families in Busoga region and the neighboring districts.

“In 2019, 33% of our enrolled women with cancer suffered from cervical cancer and 21% had breast cancer so we started education and screening for early diagnosis and treatment for these two most common cancers in Uganda, but we are limited by financing, the need is great. So we are grateful to MTN for coming to our rescue and call on others to join the struggle not just in Busoga but the whole country,” Sylvia Nakami explained the Executive Director.

“The absolute poverty and last-mile isolation of our clients means ray of Hope Hospice is often our patients last hope for treatment and care making our work immense and a crucial challenge. We can’t do this all on our own but with support from everyone, we can save several lives,” Nakami further explained.

Many of the victims are mothers or sexually active people. “If a mother dies leaving her children that will be another problem, that’s why we do everything we can to save the mother or if they don’t make it, at least it will be more dignified.”

Vanhelleputte said he was delighted to work with a partner that puts every cent they get into good use and promised to continue supporting the work of the NGO.