The Lagos State Government has disclosed that no fewer than 100,000 women will benefit from its free breast and cervical cancer screening, in line with its plan to ensure early detection and treatment for the killer disease.
In a statement on its Facebook page on Saturday titled, ‘Lagos to screen 100,000 women for breast, cervical cancer annually’, the state government said the gesture was to ensure a cancer free and healthy society in the state and commemorate 2022 World Cancer Day.
The Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Olusegun Ogboye, disclosed this at Ikosi-Isheri Local Council Development Area Secretariat, the venue of a community outreach campaign programme held to commemorate the World Cancer Day in Lagos.
Ogboye stated that free screenings for breast and cervical cancer have since commenced in 62 State health facilities, including designated General Hospitals offering gynaecology and obstetrics care services and flagship primary health care centres across the state.
He noted that this year’s World Cancer Day with the theme, ‘Close The Care Gap’, has provided another opportunity to improve awareness on cancer and to encourage its prevention through early screening and detection, diagnosis and prompt treatment of the various types of cancers.
He said, “Cancer is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Globally, nearly one in six deaths are due to cancer and 70 per cent of these deaths occur in low and middle-income countries such as Nigeria”.
Ogboye, while reiterating the need for periodic screening and lifestyle modification as preventive measures against non-communicable disease, stated that the World Health Organisation has reported that as many as 40 per cent of deaths from cancer are preventable.
He noted that raising awareness for cancer prevention, screening and early management has become a very important goal for all stakeholders and citizens, saying, “This year’s World Cancer Day commemoration event has provided the opportunity to conduct advocacy to the people of Ikosi-Isheri as well as the entire citizenry and increase awareness on the importance of early screening, prompt diagnosis and treatment of cancers”.
The Permanent Secretary noted that no fewer than 200 women of childbearing age were screened for breast and cervical cancer during the outreach programme at Ikosi-Isheri, adding that the State Government will provide free treatment for cervical precancerous lesions for women who require it.
“I want to encourage us all to adopt a healthy and safe lifestyle. Let us ensure we go for regular screening as and when due and seek medical help early as prevention is always better, cheaper, preferable and less stressful than curative measures”, he stated.
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