2023-12-14 22:00:20
Hecht GGD Hollands Midden Receives Over €126,000 in Funding from KWF for Sun Protection Project
Hecht GGD Hollands Midden has been granted funding of more than €126,000 from the KWF for a two-year project aimed at better sun protection. This funding will enable residents of Katwijk and Noordwijk to have better protection against skin cancer, which is prevalent in the Hollands Midden region. The Cancer Atlas, which was presented in January, revealed that this form of cancer occurs above average in the region.
KWF is investing a total of €6 million in ten projects across the Netherlands, with the aim of reducing the occurrence of skin cancer. Carla van Gils, director of KWF, stated, “Partly thanks to the Dutch Cancer Atlas, we know that skin cancer is more common in coastal municipalities, where there are more hours of sunshine and stronger sun power. This also applies to the Hollands Midden region. Thanks to this financing, Hecht GGD Hollands Midden can now work even more intensively on targeted interventions, with the goal of reducing the prevalence of skin cancer in this region.”
Leanne Reijnen, project leader at GGD, emphasized the importance of the project, stating, “With project financing from KWF, we can start a two-year project to reduce skin cancer among residents in the Hollands Midden region. This will involve various interventions, such as installing sunscreen dispensers and UV index poles at schools, childcare locations, and beach bars, as well as creating awareness and promoting the use of sun protection products.”
Jacco Knape, alderman for the Economy Municipality of Katwijk, expressed his support for the project, saying, “After a successful trial with two sunscreen poles in our municipality, it is good that we can make even more sunscreen available. In this way, we can increase awareness about skin cancer and encourage the use of sunscreen.”
In addition to the project by Hecht GGD Hollands Midden, KWF is financing nine more projects, carried out by a total of twelve GGDs spread across the Netherlands. The projects focus on quitting smoking and sun protection, and are aimed at regions where lung or skin cancer is more common than in the rest of the country.
André Rouvoet, chairman of GGD GHOR Netherlands, expressed his pleasure with the funding, stating, “We will work in places where people are most exposed to cancer risk factors. That is why ten projects are starting in twelve regions where lung or skin cancer is more common than in the rest of the Netherlands. Prevention is essential here, and with the KWF project financing, GGDs can do more to prevent lung and skin cancer in their region.”]
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