October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which is an annual campaign to increase awareness of the disease. While most people are aware of breast cancer, many forget to take the steps to have a plan to detect the disease in its early stages and encourage others to do the same.

Cancer is a real threat! It is estimated that worldwide over 508000 women died in 2011 due to breast cancer (Global Health Estimates, WHO 2013). Worldwide, cervical cancer is both the fourth most common cause of cancer and death in women. In 2012, it was estimated that there were 528000 cases of cervical cancer and 266000 deaths. This is about 8% of the total cases and total deaths from cancer.

In the resource limited countries like Uganda, close to 85% women die of the devastating disease mainly because they seek medical care late. Uganda has one of the highest rates of cervical cancer in the world with 40% in the Kampala Cancer register and poor access to preventive screening services has greatly increased mortality.

It is on this note that the Makerere Breast and Cervical Cancer campaign under the Guild Health Ministry is back with yet a number of developments. The Health week is being funded by the Guild and AIDS information Centre will commence on 12^th and end on16^th October 2015: it shall take place at Freedom Square and will randomly be held in different colleges with a target of two per day.  The cancer project is as well being funded by Dr. Charles Day of USA, Desmoin University and Centre for Human Rights (CEHURD).

The main aim is to sensitize women, men, health care workers and the leaders about the causes of cervical cancer and effective methods of prevention as the aim is to target 80% of Makerere University girls and imparting them with the knowledge of the spread, risk factors, signs and symptoms of these cancers and to know the advantage of early diagnosis.

Activities that will be carried out at the freedom square will include: Cervical cancer screening, high blood pressure, assessing for risk of heart disease, diabetes, hypertension, tuberculosis, circumcision, distribution of condoms, and blood donation among others. There will be free lunch for students that will turn up for the campaign.

By the end of this campaign, 100% of the eligible women with precancerous lesions will be provided with diagnostic services, any patients will be referred to receive proper medical care including, chemotherapy and palliative care.

Makerere University Hospital will continue with the screening even after the end of the sensitization campaign. This campaign will therefore aim at decreasing cervical cancer prevalence in the long run by screening all eligible women and treating of precancerous lesions.