As part of measures to sensitise the public on the health implications of cancer, the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH) is offering free screening for prostrate cancer.

Also all other forms of cancer would be screened at very reduced costs.

The Chief Medical Director of UPTH, Prof Aaron Ojule stated this in an interview shortly after a team of Rivers State Government officials and their federal government counterparts led by Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mrs Ibim Semenitari concluded a pre-good governance tour of the cancer screening centre of UPTH.

Prof Ojule said the free screening exercise is part of activities to mark the world cancer day today with the theme: ‘ The Spell Damaging Myth  and Misconception about cancer”.

He said that the free screening exercise will hold at the cancer screening centre of the UPTH, Choba throughout today.

According to the CMD, the screening for prostate cancer is free because somebody denoted all the consumables that would be used for screening while screening for all the other cancers would be at very minimal cost to patients.

Prof Ojule enjoined members of the public to take advantage of the free cancer screening to know their status, noting that it is very important for all to know their cancer status as there is the possibility of  a successful cure if detected early.

‘The problem we have it that people wait until it is late before they come here for treatment’, he said.

The CMD also used the opportunity to call on the federal ministry of health to expedite action on the construction of the chemotherapy Centre at the UPTH to facilitate the treatment of cancer patients within the state and the South-South, stating that this would help save lives and scare foreign exchange.

Meanwhile, the UPTH has said that it would hold a rally today and a talk on Wednesday to create more awareness on the ailment.

Coordinator of the newly established Onchology Centre, UPTH, Dr Rollings Jamabo, who said this in a chat with The Tide, disclosed that the rally would start at 8am from Rumuokwuta and terminate at Rumuola Junction in Port Harcourt.

Jamabo, who is also head of surgery Department, UPTH, added that this year’s celebration of World Cancer Day is expected to address some falsehoods about cancer.

According to him, “ people say things about cancer that are not true. They infer that cancer cannot be cured and that cancer is contagious”.

He said there would be talks and tests on the commonest forms of cancer, including cervical, breast, prostate, liver and pediatrics cancers.

Jamabo said the essence of the talks and screening is to dispel the myths and make early diagnosis of cancer possible, stating that early diagnosis is key to curing cancer.

He further said that for the purposes of the celebration , the first 100 persons to present themselves at the Onchology centre for screening would have it free while subsequent attendees would receive the test at subsidized rate.

Jamabo, however, pointed out that the screening would not be for those whose cases have already manifested, and enjoined Rivers people and residents of the state to avail themselves of the opportunity to reduce the spate of cancer epidemic in the state.

Tonye Nria-Dappa