Add thelocalreport.in As A Trusted Source
when rural veterinarians In northern ireland After farm animals are sent for check-ups, they will now also be encouraged to have health-related conversations with their owners. cancer Inequalities in rural areas community,
During their continuous training, which they have to update every year, veterinarians will now learn about human Health so they can talk farmers And give them advice.
Veterinary associations have teamed up with Macmillan Cancer Support Charity and the Farming Community Network (FCN) as part of a project which aims to raise awareness of the symptoms of cancer in rural communities.
Barry O’Boyle, a dairy farmer from County Antrim, said the initiative would help change the tendency of some farmers to skip doctor’s appointments. BBC,
He said: “They think maybe it’s not important enough, but if you feel you’re not yourself, it’s always better to get checked,” the broadcaster explained. “We are more than happy to talk about the health of our animals.”
Mr O’Boyle’s father, also a farmer, died shortly after after being diagnosed with cancer. “It was an aggressive form of cancer that my father had, but who knows, if the symptoms had been caught earlier, it might have helped a little,” he said.
FCN and the Macmillan Cancer Support charity are trying to remind farmers to “nip it in the bud” and get screened for cancer as soon as possible.
Catriona Crawford, FCN’s Northern Ireland national manager, said farmers and people living in rural communities may not be able to prioritize their health due to lack of time or access to available services. As a result, he said, some cancer symptoms, including pain, fatigue and tiredness, may be ignored for a long time.
He said: “The support provided by both veterinary associations will undoubtedly help us encourage farming families to be more aware and if diagnosed and treated in the early stages will ultimately save lives from a treatable disease.”
People living in rural communities often have more advanced cancer when diagnosed, and are 5 percent less likely to survive, according to research from Newcastle University.
Sarah Christie, national lead for Northern Ireland at Macmillan Cancer Support, said: “Cancer can disrupt your whole life. And it can be made worse because of who you are or where you live.
“Rural communities face unique challenges in accessing information and support, which is why partnerships like this are so important.”