Foundation creates awareness on Prostrate cancer

A Non-Governmental Organisation, Medicaid Cancer Foundation, has initiated a synergy with local artists to create awareness in the fight against prostate cancer.

READ ALSO: Experts advise men to eat balanced diet to prevent prostate cancer

The Founder of the foundation, Dr Zainab-Shinkafi Bagudu, described the work of art as a major communication tool for the fight against the cancer scourge.

He noted that art, emotions, ideas, and innovative ideas can be employed as a strategy to mobilise the people for a better understanding of the dangerous effects of the disease.

The move was aimed at sensitizing men 40 years and above on the dangers of cancer, the funding and the treatment.

Bagudu, a former first lady of Kebbi State, identified the lack of effective communication tool for the mobilisation of citizens in advocacy as a major impediment to combating the disease.

She noted that one of the dynamic strategies to educate the people is through the mobilisation of artists to convey messages for effectiveness.

According to her, the foundation decided to move the crowd out of their homes to raise funds for cancer patients by using the talent of the creative artists to express concern about cancer.

She said, “Art is a way of expressing different emotions, different ideas and different innovations. One of the biggest problems that we have in cancer advocacy is how to get the message across to the people.

“The important thing is for us to know that cancer is real and is killing over 20 million people across the world every year, while 80 per cent of these people are from the lower and middle cadre. So, we have to educate ourselves about it.

“We need to accept preventive measures and adopt a healthy lifestyle. No smoking, no alcohol and then exercise regularly. These are some of the things that are important to prevent cancer. Another key to this is that early detection is the key to saving lives,” Bagudu maintained.

The Programme Manager, MCF, Mr Joshua Ochogwu said, “Art 4 Cancer was designed by the foundation to reduce the culture of silence and emphasise the evil effect of prostate cancer to society.”

He said that art has the power of reviving, uniting and bringing people together, and showed his appreciation for the large turnout of creative artists at the programme.

He added, “We have visual artists here, young creative minds, musical artists, poets and we have photographers, among others.

“It is a passion for us. It is something we believe will create more awareness about cancer.A lot of our art photography has been sold already, depicting photographs of cancer.

“No man can stand and fight cancer alone, we can only stand together to fight it and see the success.”

The Director, Government Affairs and Policy, J &J Innovative Medicine, Mr Ikechukwu Ofuani, said that the organisation was in partnership with MCF to ensure the continued education and awareness for men who are 40 years above.

He said that J & J provide access to innovative treatment and medication and advised men in that age range to volunteer for prostate cancer examination.

“There are various ways of conveying messages. As a matter of fact, this particular project is part of our November project because the month is a prostate cancer month but for some reason, we couldn’t organise it then so we moved it to this period.

“The essence of the activities is for men to get tested and we will continue to create more awareness about prostate cancer, while the proceeds from this programme will go into the treatment of cancer patients,” he said.

On his part, the Convener of Maigaskiya Visuallur Abdullah-Uthman Maigaskiya, explained to the gathering that MCF decided to bring artists together to create a platform to promote the advocacy against prostate cancer.
Maigaskiya who is a Photographer/Cinematographer, noted that the exhibition held at the event is a collection of works from different artists to demonstrate the danger posed by the disease to society.

He said that the artistic work was also meant put together to encourage upcoming artists to embrace visual art to demonstrate the scourge.

“Medicaid is actually auctioning some of this artwork and the proceeds, at the end of the day, will go into the fund that is allocated for the campaign against Cancer.

“Historically, the media has always been a strong tool in creating engagement, drawing awareness to issues that are happening around us; for us, we are happy to be part of this show.

“In today’s world, visuals are becoming a very strong tool for creating engagement and drawing attention. Media outlets are playing a role in educating, as well as addressing issues that are prevalent in society,” he said.