Nigerian Air Force Officers Wives Association, NAFOWA has created cancer awareness and screening programme.
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NAFOWA National President, Mrs Elizabetht Amao disclosed this in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.
Mrs Amao said “this programme would afford them a good opportunity to drum up awareness about cancer and how important it is to take proactive measures to stay healthy”.
According to her, Cancer has no regard for class or creed and can affect anyone.
She said that “it is important to reiterate that many of the cancers could be effectively treated and this should encourage people to go for early screening adding that they must stay vigilant and take actions to reduce the modifiable risk factors associated with cancer”.
The National President also encouraged their members to continue to help spread this message to friends, colleagues and families whenever possible in order to start taking charge of their life styles for better health. It is my belief that through our positive actions, together we can make a difference.
The Head of Department Oncology and Radiotherapy, National Hospital, Dr. Uchechukwu Shagaya who delivered lecture on cancer said “cancer can occur in any parts of the body not just on breast and cervical which is not a death sentence when detected early before it spread all over the bod”,
According to her, cancer is common in western world but they take their medications seriously as she urged the officers’ wives to make good of the opportunity they have by going for screening and checking up on themselves.
She noted that minding one’s diets, forming habits of good life style, exercises, taking vegetables and fruits would help in preventing cancer adding that smoking could cause cancer.
The Doctor urged them to be open to their doctors to be healthy rather than hiding what will kill them.
She advised doctors to keep secret the health challenges of their patients.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Chief of Medical Services, NAF Headquarters, Air Commodore Olabode Babalola said “this event is in commemoration of the Breast Cancer awareness day which is marked globally to raise awareness of Breast Cancer and to encourage its prevention, detection and treatment”.
According to him, the rising burden of cancer with its attendant high mortality rates particularly in sub Saharan Africa has far reaching implications for the overall health of everyday Nigerians and represents a major public health issue.
Babalola said “cancer is responsible for 72,000 deaths in Nigeria every year with an estimated 102,000 new cases diagnosed annually adding that it is projected that these figures will rise exponentially over the next couple of years unless urgent action is taken by stakeholders at all levels”.
From a Service perspective, the medical branch has observed with great concern, an increase in the number of serving and retired personnel including spouses who are being diagnosed 2 with various forms of cancer.
Some of these cases unfortunately present to the Hospital late by which time treatment would make very little impact. This should serve as a wakeup call for all of us to give our health the priority it deserves.
Thankfully, with appropriate lifestyle modifications and regular health screening, there is some hope as it is pertinent that they give priority to preventive action as early detection is such an important weapon in the fight against cancer. It is in line with this that free Screening services for Cancers of the Breast and Cervix would be provided today at the NAFOWA cancer screening centre.
He said “this gesture underscores the commitment of the NAFOWA leadership towards improving the wellbeing of the Air Force family at large. I want to therefore challenge those of us present here to avail ourselves of this opportunity and get screened”.
Meanwhile, the National President NAFOWA commended the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Oladayo Amao for his immense support to NAFOWA and for ensuring that quality health care provision for personnel and their families is made a priority.
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