By Our Correspondent
Wife of the Ogun State Governor, Mrs. Bamidele Abiodun says her office will continue to work with the private sector, government hospitals, and concerned stakeholders to advocate for free mammograms, which serve as the best way for early detection and treatment of cancer.
Mrs. Abiodun stated this on Monday at the flag off of Ogun Breast and Cervical Cancers Awareness Programme and Free Screening, at the June 12, Cultural Center, Kuto, Abeokuta, emphasising the need for women to regularly go for check up to avert cancer-related death.
The first lady pointed out that breast cancer had been reported to be the most commonest form of cancer among women worldwide with a high mortality rate, noting that “awareness campaign remained a continued effort at reducing death associated with it”.
She affirmed that there had been tremendous improvement in breast and cervical cancer screening as more women voluntarily came forward to be screened and treated at programmes and health facilities.
"I encourage our women to please ensure that they always do the following; know their risk for breast cancer, know how they can lower their risk, know their family history, know when to get a cancer screening, and know where to get a cancer treatment", she added.
Earlier, in her address, Commissioner for Health, Dr. Tomi Coker said 28,380 new cases of breast cancer were diagnosed in Nigeria in 2021, noting that one out of four women was diagnosed with breast cancer, advising women to seize the opportunity of the free screening provided by the State government, to ascertain their status.
Dr. Coker informed that the Ogun State Health Insurance Scheme had become operational, enjoining residents to enroll to benefit from the Scheme, which had free treatments for about 350 ailments and conditions, including breast and cervical cancer.
She opined that breast cancer is the most common cancer worldwide with developing countries like Nigeria contributing the highest quota of about 61% to the burden.
"In 2020, there were 7.8 million women who were diagnosed with breast cancer in the past 5 years, making it the world’s most prevalent cancer. It is therefore a huge public health challenge that requires more attention than it currently gets from stakeholders across the globe.
Dr Coker said "breast Cancer is not a respecter of persons. It can affect both young and old but tends to be commoner in women age 50 and above.
She "advocate for those of us who have access to breast cancer screening service to take advantage of it.
"For the rest of us, a cost free consistent monthly examination or routine clinical examination during consultations for contraceptives or other hospital visits is all we need to save ourselves from the tragedy of late diagnosis and untimely death .
She said "for this occasion, we are not just raising awareness for the disease. As is our practice yearly, we are offering clinical breast screening in all 20 Local Governments in the state and breast scans for women with breast lumps and symptom suggestive of breast cancer.
"Beyond this month, we have incorporated routine health promotion messages in all our facilities; primary secondary, and tertiary, to promote early detection and invariably contribute to an increase in the survival rate of affected women in Ogun State.
In her goodwill message, representative of the World Health Organisation, Mrs. Folake Ogunlaja, said the agency was committed to supporting State public health activities using an integrated approach, appreciating health workers for their effort at ensuring the implementation of Universal Health Coverage for all.
0 Comments