Group set to intensify awareness on childhood cancer

Lions Club International, District 404B1 Nigeria, says it will continue to intensify awareness on childhood cancer, as part of its support to the Federal Government efforts on social welfare.

Mrs Kema Ashibuogwu, 404B1 District Governor, Lions Club, said this during the club’s recognition awards to over 155 of its members on Sunday in Lagos. According to her, steps taken by the club include creating awareness on childhood cancer in various communities and providing a better living environment for them.

She said members that given the awards had served their various clubs and the districts with their time, treasure and talents. Ashibuogwu said that the club got a grant to build caregivers’ home for people taking care of children living with cancer at Federal Medical Center, Ebute-Metta.

Ashibuogwu said the club found out that many caregivers do not have a place to stay whenever they bring children for treatment at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH). She said that affected children were often lost to cancer due to such accomodation challenge.

“The most important thing is that caregivers need a place to stay, so that the children can go through the normal process of treatment without a break and lives could be saved,” Ashibuogwu said. She said the club donated N2 million to LUTH for children living with cancer, especially those whose parents cannot afford to pay the medical bills.

The governor also said that the district also got 147,000 dollar grant from Lions Club International Foundation (LCIF).
Ashibuogwu said the club had been creating awareness about the deadly disease as the district and various clubs took the Childhood Cancer Awareness Campaign to churches, mosques, and various streets in Lagos, Ota, and lbadan Axis. She added that the awareness included organising a match past parade with over 200 students from various schools across the same Lagos, Ibadan, and Ota Axis on Feb. 15.

Mr Samson Abodunrin, Pioneer incoming District Governor for the newly Bifurcated District 404B4, said Ashibuogwu during her tenure was passionate about combating childhood cancer. Abodunrin said that the project was designed to cover children with cancer issues, adding that the management of LUTH could draw out the N2 million and treat the patients.He said that the DG had brought innovation in line with her reference point for this year which is tagged, “New thinking, New Horizon”.

NAN/S.S