Mrs. Abiodun Takes Free Cancer Screening to Ikenne Local Government

By: Kemi Oyeleye

The need for breast cancer screening among women for early detection and treatment has returned to the center stage.

First Lady and wife of the Ogun State Governor, Mrs. Bamidele Abiodun brought this to fore at the ongoing breast cancer awareness program organised by her pet project, Ajose Foundation and Medical Women Association, Ogun state branch held at the Maternity Center, Ward 9, Ilisan, Remo.

Mrs. Abiodun enjoined women to take advantage of the free screening to know their status and act promptly if cancer was discovered by quickly taking treatment to curb it's spread to other parts of the body.

"Women, you have sacrificed so much for your families, your communities, please, don't sacrifice your health too.

Take advantage of this opportunity for free screening because they say that once you can detect cancer quickly before it spreads, it is easy to treat it."

She added "By the special grace of God, we will reach all our women in the 20 Local Government Areas in the 4 divisions of the state with this campaign. All we are asking you to do is to know your status so that we can quickly get treatment if necessary."

The First Lady appreciated all associations and partners that had continued to support her initiatives promising her continuous efforts at combating the disease among women in the state.

"I want to sincerely appreciate everyone who has made this possible. However, beyond the campaign for breast cancer awareness, we will continue to press our message further to give more women a fighting chance against this deadly disease and prevent more cancer deaths."

Commissioner for Health, Dr. Tomi Coker in her address said, statistics put death of women with breast and cervical cancer at 29,000 yearly and 70 daily, a rate she described as alarming.

She listed lack of exercises, obesity and poor diet as some of the things contributing to cancer adding that early detection would make treatment cheap and effective.

The resource person at the event, a family physician with the Hospitals Management Board, Dr. Yomibo Sofolahan, explained to the women, how they could regularly check their breast for lump or any other sign of the disease.

She advised women to promptly visit the hospital when they noticed any sign of breast and cervical cancer for early diagnosis and treatment before it reached the advanced stage to prevent death.

A beneficiary at the free screening, Mrs. Kehinde Adelaja expressed her gratitude at the kind gesture of the first lady noting that she could not have gone for such screening at the hospital.

Various food items and toiletries were also distributed to women at the event.