FG Reiterates Commitment To Collaborate With Private Organisations To Fight Cancer

The Federal Ministry of Health has reiterated its commitment to synergise with private organisations and non-governmental organisations to continue efforts in combating the scourge of cancer in Nigeria.

Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, at the 28th Annual Lift Above Poverty Organisation Forum in his speech, on Tuesday, in Abuja, said that the Ministry is delighted to collaborate with LAPO and all other organisations in the fight against cancer in Nigeria as well as continue to strengthen the synergy between the National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP) and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs).

Ehanire who was represented by the Director of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicine, Zainab Shariff, said the Federal Ministry of Health is pleased to note that the activities of the LAPO-C4 project are contributing to the realisation of Goals 1 (prevention) and 4 (advocacy and social mobilization) of the National Cancer Control} Plan (20182022).

He stressed that the project activities are linked to community-based awareness creation, support to community health facilities for basic breast, cervical and prostate cancer screening services for early detection as well as strengthening of referral linkage between the community members and the nearest primary health care facility.

“These activities are critical for effective cancer prevention among the low-income earners and members of target communities.

“Thus, the project is contributing to creating awareness and encouraging community participation for cancer prevention and control.

“I like to appreciate the Founder and Board of Directors of LAPO for their investment in community-based cancer prevention programmes as this will promote early detection and treatment culminating in reducing morbidity and mortality and socioeconomic impacts on the communities.”

The Chairman of the Occasion, Former Nigerian President, Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, in his speech also advised the Nigerian government to join forces together with non-governmental organisations to address cancer challenges in the country.

He said that as more stakeholders key into the initiative there will be an uptick in awareness and pooling of resources to effectively manage and treat cancer.

He also noted that such a strategic awareness campaign will also go a long way towards eliminating the fear and misconceptions people generally have that cancer is a death sentence.

“LAPO has continued to contribute its own quota towards the development of the society as the African continent bears a heavy burden of cancer, with a significantly high mortality rate.

“A recent projection by the World Health Organisation indicated that over 70 per cent of cancer deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries, many of which are in Africa. The reason for this most times may be due to late detection and referral for treatment, poor access to treatment thus account for the high mortality rate in poorer countries.

“These delays in diagnosis and proper referrals lead to a situation where a high percentage of cancer cases arrive at the point of treatment at advanced stages of the disease when it is difficult to recover from or even manage.”

The Founder of LAPO, Dr Godwin Ehigiamusoe, said that the Annual LAPO Development Forum was initiated in 1994 to create a platform to address development issues and challenges which many Nigerians contend with, with a view to proffering innovative and practicable solutions to them.

Ehigiamusoe further said over the years, a number of issues have been addressed at various sessions of the Forum.

“Outcomes of the previous sessions have been very useful to LAPO’s programme development and refinement for the benefits of our beneficiaries who are members of low-income households across Nigeria and Sierra Leone.”

The theme of the 28th Annual LAPO Development Forum 2021 is ‘Promoting Community Based Cancer Control Programme in Nigeria.

The LAPO C4 Initiative of Community Campaign for Cancer Control Project focused on a critical area of concern to the well-being of Nigerian citizens against cancer.

By Kazeem Biriowo, Abuja

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