Nation
Minister Urges Support For Cancer Patients, Survivors
The Minister of Women Affairs, Mrs Pauline Tallen, has urged stakeholders to support cancer patients and survivors for a healthier future.
She made the call after a walk organised by the ministry in collaboration with an NGO — Women in ICT, to commemorate the 2021 World Cancer Day in Abuja, yesterday.
World Cancer Day is annually celebrated on Feb. 4 to raise awareness on cancer and to encourage its prevention, early detection and treatment.
Cancer is a group of diseases involving abnormal cell growth with the potential to invade or spread to other parts of the body, described as a disease
that results when cellular changes cause uncontrolled growth and division of cells.
The minister, represented by the Director, Women/Gender in the ministry, Mrs Funke Oladipo, said “cancer is the second leading cause of death worldwide,
with 9.6 million people dying annually.
“Up to 70 per cent of these cancer deaths occur in developing countries because of lack of awareness and resources to diagnose and manage the disease.”
Tallen said that the 2021 theme of the World Cancer Day — “I am and I will”, was apt and called for collaborative actions and interventions to address the challenges of cancer in Nigeria.
She stressed the need for increased enlightenment and early diagnosis of cancer to reduce incidence rates in the country.
She said: “I urge you to continue to raise awareness and educate women and men about cancer, as we can save millions of preventable deaths.
“I also call on relevant government bodies, CSOs, donor partners, private organisations and individuals to rise up to the challenge so we can have a collective voice.
“There is need for both collective and personal action to show support for a healthier future for cancer patients and survivors.”
The minister also advised the public to adhere to the COVID-19 guidelines to reduce prevalence and risk involved.
The President of Women in ICT, Dr Chinwe Anyachebelu, said that the walk was to raise awareness on cancer and encourage the public to engage in regular medical check-up for early detection, management and treatment.
“Our aim is to save millions of lives and sensitise people that cancer is real and we have different types of cancers like prostate, colon, leukemia, breast cancer, skin and others.
“We want people to take care of their health because health is wealth. If you are healthy, you can do anything you want to do.
“We appeal to the public, it is not only when you fall ill that you visit the hospital; with early detection, cancer can be treated and chances of survival is high.”
According to her, the organisation uses ICT to sensitise the public on cancer, noting that it has made arrangements to reach some rural communities to sensitise them on the disease.
The Rivers state Government has identified six local government areas with the highest burden of maternal and Neonatal mortality in the state.
State Commissioner for Health Dr Adaeze Chidinma Oreh said this in an interview with newsmen at the Maternal and Neonatal Reduction innovation initiative ( Mamii)Rivers state activation workshop and state engagement meeting in Port Harcourt.
The event was organized by The Federal Ministry of Health in conjunction with its Rivers state counterpart in Port Harcourt.
Dr Oreh also restated the preparedness of the state government to support current efforts by the federal government towards the reduction of maternal and infant mortalities in the country.
She mentioned the affected Local Government Areas to include, Andoni,Akuku Toru and Ahoada West
The rest according to the Commissioner are, Bonny, Etche and Emohua Local Government Areas.
She said the workshop will enable the team from the federal ministry of health and social welfare to brainstorm with the view to finding solution to the problem.
The Commissioner also gave reasons why the Mamii initiative was the best as far as finding solution to maternal mortality was concerned.
“The uniqueness of the Mamii initiative driven by the federal ministry of health and social welfare was that we used evidence to elicit the reasons for this deaths, so that the solutions will be context specific and tailored to the particular environment where those deaths are occuring
“For us in Rivers state we have six Mamii LGAs , nationally we we have 172 local government areas “the Commissioner said.
Earlier in her opening remarks,Dr Oreh said the state government is prepared to work with the federal ministry of health and social welfare to check the rate of maternal mortality in the state.
She commended The Minister of Health and Social welfare Professor Ali Muhammad Pategi for driving the Mamii initiative across the country and expressed optimism that the programm will see to the end of maternal mortality in the country.
Also speaking the National Coordinator Nigeria health sector Renewal Initiative Dr Adam Ahmed said Rivers state is the last state among Mamii states in the country to host the team.
He said the team will visit the affected Local Government Areas with the view to interacting with the people on how to check the trend.
He expressed the hope that with continuous efforts, maternal mortality will be checked.
Also speaking the permanent secretary Rivers state Ministry of Health Professor Justinah Jumbo said the government is not leaving any stone unturned towards reduction in maternal deaths.
The permanent secretary said Governor Siminalaye Fubara is a health friendly Governor who is desirous in improving the quality of health of Rivers people.
John Bibor
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Rivers state has declared a one day fasting and prayer to seek divine intervention on the political crisis rocking the state.
The Association said this at a media briefing in Port Harcourt.
State chairman of the Association,Most Rev. Dokiboeriya B. Kaladokubo said the fasting and prayer which holds February 5th at the Ecumenical center Abonnema wharf was in furtherance of the Association peace, advocacy, good governance and political stability in Rivers state.
He said the Association has observed with disappointment the dangerous trend and and gradual descent of governance in Rivers state into uncertainty and near oblivion, adding that the trend has exposed Rivers citizens to insecurity, economic hardship, loss of livelihood and the destruction of lives and property.
Kaladokubo said the association has also watched with dismay the unfolding political crisis in the state, stressing “what we see today is not merely a disagreement among political actors,it is a dangerous drift that threatens the very foundation of governance, peace, security and the collective well-being of our people”
According to him,”as the custodians of the spiritual and moral conscience of Rivers state,we can not remain silent while the state is pushed steadily towards chaos, institutional breakdown and avoidable suffering
“We are not oblivious of the fact that Rivers state like some other states in the federation often experience tension between the Executive and the Legislature “adding”when disagreement escalate they can hinder governance, delay budgets ,erode public trust and impede peaceful, constructive development”
The Christian body stressed the need for parties involved in the conflict to seek for peaceful resolution, stressing that as Christians and children of God “we should seek the path of peace and reconciliation as Christ Himself taught us”it said
The Association further encourage the both arms of government to imbibe the spirit of forgiveness and prioritize good governance in Rivers state
“We also advised all the parties in these conflict to call their supporters to exercise restraint in all their utterances and de-escalate tension in the interest of peace in Rivers state ”
CAN also described as disturbing the role some elder statesmen and individuals in the state have played and continue to play in the crisis when they should have serve as voices of wisdom, restraint and unity
“Rather than guiding the process towards peace, some have taken sides,fueled division and encouraged instability becoming more dangerous than those currently holding power”,it said.
John Bibor
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