By Maria Famakinwa
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As part of the activities marking this year’s World Cancer Day, Breast Cancer Association of Nigeria (BRECAN) Ondo State chapter, has taken free screening for breast, cervical and prostate cancer to Igbara-Oke.
The cancer screening which was done at Igbara-Oke health centre allowed women in the community the opportunity to be more educated about the disease and access the free medical services.
The First Lady and the founder of BRECAN, Arabinrin Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, while speaking on the title of this year’s World Cancer Day “Close the gap” stressed the need for women to check and report any unusual change in their breasts to medical practitioners.
Her words: “When we thought about organizing World Cancer Day starting from the grassroots, it is because we want everyone to be fully aware of the disease so that they can know the right steps to take.
“The whole essence is to get people informed and educated because cancer does not kill if detected and treated early. Cancer is not a spiritual attack as many thoughts.”
Secretary Ondo State Primary Health Care, Dr. Francis Akanbiemu, thanked Mrs Akeredolu for her efforts at sensitizing the people on what they should know about breast and prostrate cancer. ” prostate cancer is one of the types of cancer that is most common in men and that the rate of occurrence increases with age. He, therefore, urged men to undergo yearly screenings for prostate cancer, saying: ‘it is alarming the number of men presenting cases of late prostrate cancer at the hospital.
The Chairperson of BRECAN Ondo State chapter, Mrs Chinyere Iyke-Nneke, also lauded the inclusion of prostrate cancer screening into BRECAN’s program while revealing that the Ondo First Lady came up with the initiative during the association’s strategic planning for 2023.
“Arabinrin Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu included prostate cancer as part of what we should preach, screen and encourage people to treat. Our target is to run not less than 600 screenings in this zone alone.
“The Founder of BRECAN is so passionate about the prevention, detection and treatment of cancers that she has moved awareness to the grassroots within and outside Ondo State. On patient support, our Founder did something marvellous during Christmas, she gave out cheques to people with cancer,” Iyke-Nneke said.
