The MedicAid Cancer Foundation is urging Nigerians to adopt regular screenings as a means to decrease the mortality rate associated with cancer.
Dr. Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu, the foundation’s Chief Executive Officer, issued this plea in Abuja on Monday during the 14th annual cancer awareness walk, named #WalkAwayCancer.
Following the 5km awareness walk, Bagudu addressed the participants and highlighted one of the challenges in the battle against cancer: the delayed presentation of many individuals for cancer diagnosis. She emphasized that early detection of the disease is crucial in reducing the mortality and morbidity rates of cancer in the country.
“Early detection is very crucial to solving the problem of cancer in many countries, including Nigeria. Most of the cases that we see come at late stages three and four.
“The most common cancer in women is breast cancer, we all know, followed by cervical cancer, having regular screening, which is very available, some of it is free, and you can do it yourself, self-breast examination every month, we can start to detect cancer early,” she said.
The former First Lady of Kebbi State also urged women and girls particularly between the ages of 9 and 14, to take advantage of the Federal Government’s introduction of the Human Papillomavirus Vaccine into the country, adding that the vaccine is safe.
“Recently, the government launched a very important vaccine, the HPV Vaccine that prevents cervical cancer. Many countries have been using it for over 18 years, and it is finally in Nigeria. So, if you want to get the vaccine, I urge you to; it prevents cervical cancer,” she noted.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu, called on stakeholders to put pressure on the government to dedicate more funds to the treatment of cancer in the country.
While commending the activities of the MCF in providing support for cancer patients, the minister called on Nigerians to support them.
