Breast Cancer Awareness: Akerodolu Inaugurates BRECAN In Kogi
Wife of Ondo State Governor, Arabinrin Akeredolu has officially launched
the Kogi State Chapter of Breast Cancer Association of Nigeria (BRECAN),
with a charge for everyone to join in the effort to spread the awareness
about breast cancer so that no woman in Nigeria needlessly die of the
disease.
Speaking in the State Capital Lokoja, the wife of Ondo State Governor,
urged women to be aware of the symptoms of disease and take active steps in
preventing it.
She called for the support of Kogi State Government in the fight against
the disease, stating that awareness is the key in eradicating death from
breast cancer.
While addressing Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello during a courtesy visit to
his office, Mrs Akeredolu appealed to the Governor to set up breast cancer
treatment centre in Kogi state.
“Victims of breast cancer most times go to University College Hospital (
UCH) Ibadan and other hospitals outside the state, I see no reason why you
cannot have your own breast cancer clinic in the state. Having breast
cancer clinic in the state will go a long way to debunk the misconception
about the disease because victims can easily be directed to hospital for
treatment.
“We need your support in providing infrastructures like mammographic
machine that helps to pick breast cancer at the earliest stage when no one
can actually feel that the lump is there.
The first lady of Ondo State and founder of BRECAN further stated “One
major barrier to breast cancer is financial challenge. When victims of
breast cancer cannot afford the treatment, they are made to believe that it
is a spiritual attack and get directed to prayer mountains but, if there is
breast cancer clinic in the state, they will be able to access it, get
treated and pass the message of hope across to others that breast cancer
can be treated.
“We want you to make breast cancer awareness and treatment a priority so
that women will not continue dying needlessly.”
In his remark, Governor Bello appreciated the Ondo State Government for the
hospitality given to Kogi State indigenes who resides in Ondo State and
commended the unrelenting efforts and passion of Arabinrin Akeredolu in the
fight against the disease, breast cancer and promised his support to the
fight against the disease.
“Every human being should rise against breast cancer because when you save
a woman, you save a nation”
The Governor assured that everything will be done to ensure that the
project record a huge success in the state.
In her own remark, the National President, BRECAN, Mrs Juliet Ogbogu,
explained that the aim of establishing BRECAN in Kogi State is to make sure
that women of the State did not die of the disease in their productive age.
“Public awareness of the disease is very important. We create awareness
about breast cancer through activities like The Jog for Life and World
Cancer Day among others”
The guest speaker, Dr Wuraola Ipinyomi, observed that Nigeria has the
highest cancer death rate in Africa due to lack of awareness, lack of
infrastructure like mammographic machine in hospitals, financial challenge,
superstitious belief among others.
While appealing to people to live a healthy life, she cautioned against
some of the causes of cancer to include obesity, sedentary life style,
high fat, cholesterol diet, dietary iodine deficiency, environmental factors
among others.
Dr Ipinyomi called on government to come to the aids of the victims of the
disease by prioritising cancer treatment across the country so that women
will not continue to die of the disease needlessly.
She also stressed the need for women to check their breasts monthly after
mensuration as early detection remains the solution.
