Last week the Virgin Islands Cancer Society came one step closer to its goal of establishing a branch on each of the four main Virgin Islands.

In a meeting with about 20 residents on Saturday, VICS President Gloria Fahie presided over the formation of a branch on Virgin Gorda.

“This is something that is very much needed on Virgin Gorda,” Ms. Fahie said this week, adding that cancer reports on the sister island are on the rise.

Apart from establishing branches on Anegada and Jost Van Dyke in the future, the non-profit organisation hopes to “forge more partnerships” with local and international agencies, according to the president.

To that end, VICS leaders will meet with American Cancer Society representatives for the first time on Monday, she said.

“One of our desired goals is to see the formation of a cancer registry,” Ms. Fahie said. The organisation has held meetings with the Ministry of Health and Social Development to discuss the possibility of such a venture, she added.

“From what it looks like, it is going to be very costly,” Ms. Fahie said, adding, “We are going to do everything humanly possible to work on prevention of all forms of cancer.”

The VICS is also working on forming a cancer support group.

“Right now, I handle the cancer phone,” she said. “I don’t care what time persons call, I try to make myself available.”

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