The founder of Breast Cancer Association of Nigeria, Mrs. Betty Akeredolu, has called for more awareness to prevent the spread of cancer in the country.
Speaking in Lagos during an awareness programme held at the Police College, Ikeja, Lagos, to mark the 2017 World Cancer Day, she said that although Nigerians were aware of the killer-disease, they need to be educated so as to prevent more deaths.
Akeredolu, who is a survivor of the dreaded disease, said that cancer can be devastating to the health and general wellbeing of the sufferers.
She said, “World Cancer Day is an annual event marked all over the world to raise the consciousness of people towards the disease. In Nigeria, for example, most of the equipment to treat cancer are not really working properly and that is why we have a lot of critical cases on our hands.
“Cancer in itself is not a death sentence; it is how people respond to it that matters at the end. As a survivor, I understand how it works and that is why I am always sharing my experience to help and encourage people currently battling the ailment.”
Advising citizens to approach a doctor once any strange sign was noticed on the body, Akeredolu also advised them to eat well and exercise regularly to reduce the risk of contracting cancer.
She said, “Lifestyle and behaviour has a lot to do with the prevention and management of the disease. In fact, what we eat matters a lot; it can go a long way in protecting or exposing individuals to cancer. I’ll advise people to always eat lots of fruits, vegetables and also do regular exercises. The earlier cancer is detected, the better for the individual.”
A global health expert and fellow of the Fred Hutch Cancer Research Center in Seattle, United States, Mr. Kingsley Ndoh, while also calling for more awareness on the disease, urged the federal and various state governments to place increased priority on the health of the citizens by providing world-class medical facilities that would be accessible by all.
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