Cancer awareness: Fifth Chukker’scampaign of hope, succor

By HAWWAH GAMBO

The need to educate and empower the girl-child was once more raised during the Pink Hope breast cancer awareness program organised by the Fifth Chukker Polo and Country Club in Kaduna.

The annual program which has been on for a couple of years, seeks to educate people, increase awareness about breast cancer and lend support to women who have breast cancer.

The month of October is globally recognised as breast cancer awareness month with the aim is to reduce the stigma around breast cancer, educate people about the risk factors, symptoms and treatment as well as the importance of early detection.

The event, which was attended by the First Lady of the host state, Hajia Hadiza El-Rufai, her counterpart in Niger state, Dr. Amina Abubakar Bello; also had in attendance representative of the Sokoto state First Lady, Maryam Mairo Tambuwal.

In her address, the first lady of Niger state noted that the fight against cancer can only be won when priority is given to girl-child education as education facilitates awareness, which in turn encourages prevention, healthy life style and early presentation of breast cancers.

Dr. Amina, who was involved in gynecological cancer, revealed that alongside the wives of the governors of Ogun, Ondo, Oyo, Kebbi, Kwara and Cross River states, who have Foundations that work within the cancer awareness framework, they are working together in creating awareness and educating the general public about cancer and how they could help improve the lives of women living with cancer.

She said that they are working in collaboration with the Roche Pharmaceutical Company, which brought them together as a group for improved impact, as against fighting the same cause individually.

The wife of the governor noted that some of the reasons cancer thrives in Nigerian society include, poverty and illiteracy, as well as the reluctance to lend a helping hand to people who have cancer.

“Cancer is an expensive disease to treat; and patients are being left to their fates most of the time without help from either government or family,” she lamented.
She therefore called on all to imbibe a culture of giving and endeavour to be there for one another especially those in dire need like cancer patients.

While stating that cancer was not necessarily a death sentence, she called to women who have breast cancer to have the courage to seek help as it is not a helpless case.

She said many women have fought breast cancer and won hence patients and their families should have the confidence and support of knowing that battle against breast cancer can be won.

In her own address, the wife of Kaduna state governor disclosed that there is a ray of light at the end of the tunnel for women as the Kaduna state government in collaboration with the Islamic Development Bank are equipping part of the 300-bed capacity General Hospital at the New Millennium City Kaduna, with an oncology and radiotherapy center. This, she said would be completed by June 2018 and would be fully equipped to diagnose and treat breast cancer, noting that for the time being the Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital has been equipped to meet the needs of cancer patients temporarily.

Hajia Hadiza called on the general public to endeavor to seek medical help to treat cancer and early too, emphasising that though traditional medicine, which many turn to for cancer treatment may suffice for those who patronise it, however lack of adequate data, research, dosage, duration of treatment, among others makes it unreliable.

She therefore made case for more education and enlightenment of the general public about cancer, and also advised that unless the unorthodox medicine will be done away with; then it has to be enhanced to ensure its efficacy and safety.

In her presentation, Consultant Radiologist at the Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital, Dr. Bilkisu Faruoq, said that breast cancer is the most common cause of death among women in Nigeria with a rising rate of between 7 to 10,000 news cases occurring every year.

She said that one of the several reasons breast cancer is considered terminal in a developing country like Nigeria is the fact that over 50 per cent of cases are presented late; when the cases are already at stages 3 and 4.

Dr. Bilkisu advised women to be cautious of their diet and lifestyle in order to reduce the risk factors associated with breast cancer.
Highlights of the occasion include the cutting of the Pink Hope cake, and the interactive session with survivors and women living with breast cancer.

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