The Defence and Police Officers Wives Association of Nigeria, DEPOWA in collaboration with Partnership for the Eradication of Cancer in Africa (PECA), has taken proactive steps to combat cancer by sensitising and conducting free cancer screening for wives of personnel.
The National President of DEPOWA, Mrs Oghogho Musa made this known during a shared mission to commemorate World Cancer Day 2024 and to unite under the theme of “Close the Care Gap” in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.
Mrs Musa said that “cancer remains one of the most significant health challenges of our time, affecting millions of lives worldwide”.
According to her, to commemorate this year’s World Cancer Day, she is proud to announce that DEPOWA, as they have come together to mark this day, must acknowledge the reality that cancer knows no boundaries, it affects individuals and communities worldwide, regardless of age, gender, or socioeconomic status.
“But in the middle of this reality lies an opportunity to bridge the gap in cancer care and to ensure that no one is left behind in the fight against this disease”, she added.
She noted that since her assumption into office, she has conducted free cervical cancer screening for over 250 women in October 2023 and mammograms for over 80 women between October 2023 and January 2024.
“Today, over 200 women across all services will benefit from this programme. Today marks an important milestone as we launch the reutilisation of cervical and breast cancer screening, a substantial step towards early detection, timely intervention, and, ultimately, saving lives”, she said.
According to her, by making these screenings a frequent part of healthcare services, they empower individuals to take charge of their health, detect cancer at its earliest stages, and access the care and support they need.
She noted that closing the care gap requires a collective commitment to raising awareness, advocating for fair access to healthcare services, and investing in research and innovation.
It requires them to stand in solidarity with those affected by cancer, offering support, compassion, and hope in their time of need.
“As we begin this journey, let us remember that each one of us has a role to play in shaping a world where cancer is no longer a death sentence but a disease that can be prevented, detected, and treated effectively”, she added.
Together, let us close the care gap and pave the way towards a future free from the burden of cancer.
Consultant Oncologist, Head, Radio-Oncology Department, Doctor Teesy Ahmadu says cancer is globally one of the most dreaded diseases.
According to her, it’s not surprising and it’s not new, it’s the leading cause of death worldwide and it’s also a public health problem.
Ahmadu said that “it is the commonest cause of death in developed countries and among the three leading causes of death in developing countries”.
She noted that these are some of the commonly asked questions on cancer. “
What is cancer? Is it real? Is it common? Who can be affected? What parts of the body are affected? What causes it? What makes one more prone to cancer? Can it be treated? Is it preventable? Can it be cured? What do I do to prevent it and then the frequent myths and beliefs that you know the stories we hear whether true or false about cancer, so by the time I finish this presentation, we should be able to have been able to discuss most of this”, she said
According to her, the normal cells in the body when they go abnormal fail to obey the normal regulation of the body and that’s what causes cancer.
Most of the cancers we have and what causes it except for those that are caused by particular organisms like the cervical cancer that they know may be liver cancer and hepatitis B or C viruses and all that most of the cancers may not have a particular cause.
According to her, they are looking at the risk factors and how they can reduce the risk of having cancers.
“So it is very curable. It is very preventable. That’s what I will say.
What they must take out today is that for everything you do about cancer, it is a race against time, from prevention, to cure to treatment. It is always a race against time”, she said.
She noted that in Nigeria, breast cancer is the common than cervical cancer, of course, you have lung cancer for males, you have prostate cancer up there, and then lung cancer, and colorectal cancer.
According to her, modify and avoid these modifiable risk factors. What we mean by modifiable risk factors that one can do something about, are risk factors that you can work on as a person and then your risk of developing cancer generally will be reduced.
Earlier, the President of PECA, Doctor Benjamine Ogbaru said their business is to eradicate cancer in Africa if they put their hands together.
He noted that cancer can be prevented through vaccination.
Incidentally, so many women do not have access to the vaccine.
The screening had the DEPOWA Health Coordinator, Dr. Juliette Ango, the National Coordinator of Cancer Control, Dr. Uchechukwu Nwokwu, and the Commander Defence Headquarters Medical Centre. VC Iboeze amongst others.
Dominica Nwabufo
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