Ahmed Khudad has had brain cancer for ten years and his wife has had breast cancer for 12 years. In addition to the cost, pain, and continuous treatment, the burden of travel between Garmiyan’s Kalar town and Sulaimani for treatment has compounded their misery.
“It is very difficult for us to go to Sulaimani,” Khudad told Rudaw, lamenting the lack of proper treatment in Kalar. “When we go there, it makes us anxious and weakens our immune system. We have to leave before morning prayer to arrive on time for our turn.”
A charity organization in Garmiyan provides monthly financial assistance to cancer patients after being diagnosed with the disease.
“We provide financial assistance to cancer patients in the region and raise awareness about the disease,” said Dilnya Jihad, a member of Zryan Cancer Organization, noting that they tried to bring a branch of Sulaimani’s Hiwa Hospital to Garmiyan to shorten the travel distance for patients.
One billion dinars (about $763 thousand) are needed to open a cancer center in Kalar, according to Hars Mohammed, director general of Kalar General Hospital.
“We need mammography equipment, we need staff and a range of devices. A committee has been formed in the health directorate and several panels will be held for the benefit of Garmiyan,” said Mohammed.
There are over 81,000 cancer cases in the Kurdistan Region, with 9,911 new cases registered in 2023 alone, according to data compiled by Rudaw.
Hunar Hamid contributed to this report from Kalar
