| Women's group plans
cancer screening center
By PATRICIA ONYEKWERE
Friday July 16, 2004
A group known as the Women's Guild Auxilary (WGA) has commenced
moves to open a cancer screening Centre in Lagos to help check
the spread of the disease.
President of WGA, Mrs Obafunke Akinkugbe said when opened,
anyone would be able to walk into the centre anytime and get
screened for cancer.
Speaking during a press conference, Mrs Akinkugbe noted that
the WGA started at the Cathedral Church of Christ in Lagos
and that it would mark the Church's 70th anniversary by sensitising
the people on how to reduce the rate of cancer in Nigeria.
Mrs Akinkugbe said the cancer issue has over time been locked
up in a closet and that it is time to bring the awareness
of cancer to peoples doorsteps.
"Everyone is a target, cancer is no respecter of persons,
early detection does help, we cannot afford to lose people
we cannot afford to lose. If you can detect cancer early,
you can treat it.
The group which is working in collaboration with the Bloom
Cancer Care and Support Centre, would on Thursday July 29,
hold a lecture tagged "Cancer: Why me? At the National
Merit Award Committee Hall, in Abuja at 10a.m as part of activities
lined up for the church's 70th year anniversary celebration.
Billed to speak at the lecture is Dr Olubunmi Abayomi, Associate
Professor of Oncology Virginia, Commonwealth University in
the United States of America. Also to be present at the lecture
are Ambassador Olu Adeniji, Minister of External Affairs as
chairman and Chief Mrs Titi Atiku Abubakar, as the special
guest of honour.
Also speaking at the press briefing, Dr Kofoworola Orija,
Executive Director of the Bloom Cancer Care and Support Centre
said the awareness of the deadly disease should not be limited
or left in the hands of professionals alone. "We want
the government also to be aware, we are not going to relent
in our effort to sensitize the people and that is why we have
gone as far as inviting the best of Nigerians abroad, who
have done well for themselves in areas of health. A lot of
them are not in this country to do what they know best because
the equipment's are not here for them to work with, but we
are ready to effect a change," she said.
According to Chief Mrs Akinkugbe, "the government needs
to come out and make a pronouncement on the cancer issue.
There should be a national policy on cancer to allow the sensitization
programme or campaign to be effective."
"We intend to source funds for this project from our
patrons, friends, but above all our targets are the Chief
Executives of companies, Managing Directors and all those
who are into humanitarian services, including Non-governmental
Organisations," she said.
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