4th February marks Cancer Awareness Day, here is what you should know.
World Cancer Day is celebrated every year on 4th of February. This year marks the 19th anniversary and the launch of the 3-year ‘I Am and I Will’ campaign.
Global Cancer Facts
· Every minute, 17 people worldwide lose their battle to cancer - that’s over 24,000 people every single day. That’s more deaths than HIV, TB & Malaria combined.
· Cancer is the second-leading cause of death worldwide.
· 70% of cancer deaths occur in low-to-middle income countries.
· At least 1/3 of cancers are preventable.
· An estimate 70% of cervical cancers are caused by Human papillomavirus (HPV).
Kenyan Cancer Facts
· Cancer is the 3rd highest cause of morbidity in Kenya – after infectious diseases and cardiovascular (heart) disease.
· There are close to 48,000 new cases of Cancer each year in Kenya with more than 32,000 deaths annually. 56% of these new cases and of the deaths are in women.
· 60% of Kenyans affected by Cancer are younger than 70 years of age.
· 70-80% of cancer cases are diagnosed in late stages
· 1 in 10 children survive cancer in Kenya – this is compared to 7 in 10 in the developed countries
Whoever you are and wherever you are, you have the power to reduce the impact of cancer for yourself, the people you love and for the world. Play your role in the fight through:
1. Screening and early detection – cancer detected early often makes it easier to treat.
2. Healthy eating – eating a well-balanced diet and avoiding diets high in red & processed meats, salted foods and low in fruits and vegetables.
3. Physical activity – at least 30 minutes of exercise 5 days a week.
4. Quit smoking – tobacco use is responsible for around 22% of cancer deaths.
5. Early treatment of infections.
6. Reduce pollution & exposure to other carcinogens.
7. Use x-rays and other radiation sparingly – including not microwaving food in plastic containers
‘I Am and I Will’ is an empowering call-to-action urging for personal commitment and represents the power of individual action taken now to impact the future.
Have a Cancer Aware Month :-)
International Childhood Cancer Day.
International Childhood Cancer Day is celebrated annually on 15th February.
It is a global collaborative campaign to raise awareness about childhood cancer, and to express support for children and adolescents with cancer, the survivors and their families.
Childhood cancer continues to be the leading cause of non-communicable related death in children throughout the world.
Global Childhood Cancer Facts:
• More than 300,000 children are diagnosed with cancer each year.
• The survival rate in the developed countries is > 80% compared to < 20% survival in the developing world.
Kenyan Childhood Cancer Facts:
• More than 3,000 children in Kenya develop cancer every year.
• The main contributor to death is late diagnosis and poverty which results in discontinuation of treatment by childhood cancer patients due to financial difficulties, lack of health insurance and transport difficulties.
• The most common types of childhood cancers in Kenya are leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease, Kaposi’s sarcoma, kidney cancer and rhabdomyosarcoma.
The Target Goal of the WHO Global Childhood Cancer Initiative is to eliminate all pain and suffering of children fighting cancer and achieve at least 60% survival for all children diagnosed with cancer around the world by 2030.
With enhanced awareness and early detection, the survival of childhood cancers can be closer to that experienced in the developed world.
Have a Childhood Cancer Aware day :-)
Let's Talk About Personal Finance.
Personal finance involves making complex and multiple individual finance decisions which ultimately defines the quality of life lived. If not done properly it may make one,
• Sink into debt.
• Have no Savings for future.
• Have no discernable investments.
• Stressed among other medical conditions.
The personal financial process consists of five separate but interrelated steps. Which include;
• Determining the current financial position.
• Determine your financial GOAL.
• Developing a financial plan.
• Implementing the plan.
• Monitoring the implementation.
To determine one current financial situation, consider facts such as,
• How much income do you have?
• How much expenses do you have?
• How are the expenses allocated?
• How much loan and other liabilities do you have?
It is recommended that you keep track of your expenses on a daily basis .ie log your daily spending into a book. This will help you understand your spending habits and your net worth.
Principles in Saving and in Spending
It is very important to be principled when it comes to saving and spending. Consider the following,
• Have a personal budget. That details your income and expenditure.
• Understand your money personality.
• Have a shopping list to avoid over spending and impulse buying.
• Save at least 10% of your income on a monthly basis.
• Save from the source e.g. check off, Direct debits etc.
• Don’t spend more than 30% of your income on rent or paying for mortgage.
• Don’t buy a car that is more than 8 times your monthly income.
• Don’t carry more cash than is necessary.
• Buy goods in bulk.
• Buy goods/services during sales campaigns.
• Save in areas which pay compound interest not simple interest.
• Ensure that the rate on investment is higher than inflation.
• Reduce your taxable income by taking advantage of government policies.
• Borrow to purchase assets that increase in value over time.
We hope that this will make a difference, all the best!
