By Deborah Hassan
The Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) has urged individuals to imbibe the culture of undergoing check-up and examination in order to detect cancer on time and save lives.
NAWOJ also called on the government to provide adequate resources for healthcare, especially for the treatment and management of cancer cases in the country.
The association made this known in a press statement jointly signed by its National President, Ladi Bala and National Secretary, Helen Udofa, on Thursday, February 4, 2021.
The statement was issued to mark the international World Cancer Day, which comes up every February 4 to raise awareness of cancer and encourage its prevention, detection, and treatment.
NAWOJ said the 2021 global theme: ”I Am And I Will,” is an acknowledgement that everyone’s commitment to act will lead to powerful progress in reducing the global impact of cancer and create a cancer-free world. It added that it was a call that everyone’s contribution, irrespective of status, would make lasting, positive change.
It stated: ”Although the Federal Government, last year, allayed fears of a rise in Nigeria’s cancer burden; saying it has upgraded seven tertiary health institutions to manage invasive cancer and cancer-related illnesses in the country, NAWOJ observes that some factors still militate against government efforts at effectively combating cancer scourge in Nigeria.
”These include poor awareness, poor health seeking behaviour, low level of non-governmental investments, low number of skilled health care personnel, funding gaps. Other factors are the myopic view that cancer is a disease of the rich amid the reality that the poor and downtrodden are suffering in silence as well as myths and misconceptions that lead to stigmatisation and discrimination against people living with cancer. Unless government intervenes significantly, more Nigerians would continue to die of cancer.
”Therefore, NAWOJ calls on the federal and state governments to partner national and international stakeholders to record more laudable achievements in managing cancer cases in the country, as well as commit adequate resources to reduce cancer death and provide better quality of life for patients and survivors.
”Also, non-governmental organizations, civil societies and other stakeholders should intensify advocacies and organise more sensitisation programmes, especially in rural areas, to enlighten the public on preventive measures to reduce the prevalence of the killer disease.
”There is no doubt that there is cure when detected early, therefore, we encourage regular checkups and examinations as most cancers can be removed with either drugs, radiotherapy or surgeries, when detected early.
”NAWOJ believes everyone has the capacity to address the cancer burden and that, together, we can work to reduce cancer risk factors and overcome barriers to early diagnosis, treatment and palliative care in Nigeria.”