History

The Fiji Cancer Society was formed officially in 1993 as an initiative of the Fiji Medical Association following its Annual Conference with the theme “Cancer in the Developing Countries” in 1992.

A grant of five hundred dollars was provided by the then President of FMA to a select committee, headed by Dr. Mary Schramm, and including Ratu Joni Madraiwiwi, Mr. Tony Cooper and others. Following a number of meetings and the mobilization of the Public at large, the inauguration was held at the Town Hall, Suva Civic Centre, with the President of the New Zealand Cancer Society as the Chief Guest. Dr. Mary Schramm was nominated the interim Chairperson with an interim committee to formulate a Constitution and register the Society as a Charitable Trust and call and AGM and thereafter steer the Society forward.

The first conference held in 1992 by the FMA highlighted the concern that cancer patients were dying because they had not reported their illness until it had reached an advanced stage. This emphasized the urgent need for public awareness of the importance of going to see a doctor at the first sign of symptoms. The Medical Fraternity were “jogged” to be vigilant and educate the patients and the public about the early signs and symptoms of the prevalent cancers in Fiji, namely cancer of the breasts, cervix, colon and lungs.

Because the rates of Cancer of the Breast and the Cervix was the highest, a grant provided by the Australian Cancer Society was utilized to train 50 nurses in taking Pap smears within the different Health Divisions. Cancer of the Cervix is treatable if detected early, or in the precancerous period. In 1994, a screening programme was organized with these nurses and volunteer Doctors with a media campaign and approximately 10,000 women were seen. A small number were found to have cancer.

Some had precancerous lesions and others had other conditions. The majority of those that were seen were normal and healthy. Breasts were examined and patients were taught how to examine their own breasts regularly and report any lumps they happened to detect. This campaign was then handed on to the Ministry of Health. Pap smear instruments were loaned to the Ministry of Health, Oxfam Clinic and Health Centres and new instruments were acquired with the help of organizations.

The Sashi Goundan Fund

The Sashi Goundan Fund was established in memory of Dr. Sashi Kiran Goundan who was killed in a motor accident on Mother’s Day, 1994. Sashi was a aediatrician at the Colonial War Memorial Hospital Children’s Ward and her area of interest was paediatric oncology (the subspecialty of children with cancer). It is hoped that this fund will continue not only her memory, but facilitate the treatment of children with cancer. Nothing will replace her dedication and tireless energy in caring for Fiji’s children.

Initial deposits included $4,644.65 from the United Nations Women’s Guild (now known as the International Women’s Organization) and $1,000 from the John Hunter Hospital, Newcastle. When the fund was instituted, the parents of children with cancer had to pay for the drugs used to treat cancer. This meant that many children received incomplete and therefore inadequate treatment, due to financial constraints. The original intent in establishing the fund was to ensure that this did not happen. Since then, the Government of Fiji has started supplying these drugs through its free drug scheme.

The original plan to use this fund to facilitate the treatment of children with cancer has not changed. It is now used to provide necessary treatments or interventions which are not available in Fiji.

The fund is administered by the Fiji Cancer Society and applications for its use are considered by a Sashi Goundan Committee. This committee is made up of paediatricians from CWM Hospital and selected members of the Cancer Society Board. This committee has guidelines for dealing with proposals for disbursement of Sashi Goundan Funds to child cancer victims.

Money from the Sashi Goundan Fund is also used for 'Make a Wish', details of which can be found under .