For four consecutive years now, Omellemel ma Ulekerreuil a Bedenged (OMUB), Palau’s Cancer Coalition, has been organizing candlelight vigil to remember those who have passed away with cancer and to extend hope to those are still battling with the disease.
Another purpose of the candlelight vigil, according to Darnelle Decherong, Comprehensive Cancer Control Program Coordinator, is to promote awareness to the community that cancer is not a death sentence. “That if you take care of yourself you can prolong your life,” Decherong said in an interview.
OMUB will be providing candles to groups and organizations that are interested to participate in the vigil. Decherong said all they have to do is send their representatives to the office, and they will be provided with candles and copies of the program.
Unfortunately, she said, they can only accommodate groups and not individuals. For individuals who want to join the vigil, Decherong said they can bring their own candles.
The vigil will be broadcasted live on the radio live, so people at home can participate. It will be co-sponsored by Palau National Communications Corporation and the Eco-Paradise 87.9 FM.
“Last year we had close to 1,000 participants from Kayangel all the way to Angaur,” Decherong said. “This year we are expecting more because we are advising people that if they can’t go to locations, they can just stay home and light their own candles while listening to the live coverage on the radio.”
The main station in Koror will be the Bethlehem Park. There will be different stations for each State: Aimeliik, Community Center; Airai, State Office; Angaur, St. Joseph Catholic Church in Echang; Hatohobei in Koror, St. Joseph Catholic Church in Echang; Kayangel, Bair a Seinendang; Melekeok, Bai Lechesau; Ngaraard, Ngaraard State Public Works; Ngardmau, State Office; Ngatpang, State Office; Ngchesar, State Office (Summer House); Ngarchelong, State Office; Ngeremlengui, Old Age Center; Ngiwal, State Office; Peleliu Bai (Extension of State); and Sonsorol (in Koror), St. Joseph Catholic Church in Echang.
Simultaneously, each state will light the candles at 7:30. Each State will also pay their tribute for five minutes, either in the form of poems, songs or chants.
“It is mostly for emotional and spiritual healing of those who have gone through cancer,” Decherong said.
For the rest of the month, OMUB is also going to do home visits to homebound cancer patients. They put together some gifts, adult diapers, milk that they will bring to the patients. According to Decherong, right now they have 12 homebound cancer patients.
“There’s more, but these are the only patients that gave us permission to visit them on a regular basis,” she said.
Decherong is calling on anyone who is interested to donate or volunteer to give the OMUB office a call at 4884070.
“We are encouraging the youth, because now they’re active and picking up, to join us. We hope to raise cancer awareness at a very young age,” Decherong said.
For the whole month of September, the coalition will also keep the community posted about their cancer programs by putting up weekly advertisements in the newspaper and having radio and television shows regularly.
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