State cancer screening programs are important
State cancer screening programs are important
Dear Editor:
It’s no question the pandemic continues to have a dire impact on the health and financial wellness of Florida families. In fact, such impacts are one of the driving factors behind the dangerously low cancer screening rates we’ve seen throughout the past two years.
At the height of the pandemic, breast and cervical cancer screenings declined by over 80 percent nationwide; today, they have yet to return to pre-pandemic numbers.
That’s why during the recent National Cancer Screening Awareness this week, I want to bring light to the success of our state-funded screening programs and the lifesaving services they’ve provided uninsured and underinsured individuals across our state.
Approximately 14,000 women annually receive the help they need through the Mary Brogan Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program – including cancer patients and survivors like myself.
Today, these services are as important as ever. To adequately address the impacts of pandemic, we need to increase funding for Mary Brogan to reach more women as well as account for the impact of the pandemic on cancer care.
As legislators begin to look to and prioritize policies in the upcoming session that address the effects of the pandemic, our screening programs should be top of mind. They haven’t only been a lifesaver for so many women; their mass potential to reach even more Floridians as we emerge from the worst is crucial.
Butch Rivera
Kissimmee
Kissimmee needs homelessness plan
Dear Editor:
Since I worked on the City of Kissimmee committee to develop housing and other help for the homeless and disadvantaged in 2000, and saw how fast the progress was proceeding, I can speak to the city’s ability to develop and execute a plan for helping the homeless.
They can’t!
These commissioners and committee members come with good intentions, but there aren’t enough hours in the day to learn what they must to develop a workable program. They might have to step on a few toes that would hurt them politically.
The people who develop this program should be nonpolitical and should have worked with the people they are developing the program for. At least then they would have some idea of what the program needs besides a fancy building with their names on it. The commissioners hears may be in the right place but they haven’t worked in the trenches so they aren’t really in touch with their needs.
The City Commission needs to reconsider, and find another possibility to developing a plan. Perhaps look at the “Dream Centers” developed by the Joyce Meyer organization. I understand a local church is looking into them.
Jan DeMond
Kissimmee
