By Ishaq Dan-Imam, Lokoja.
In a bid to create awareness among youngsters on cancer prevention and control in Kogi State, a non-governmental organization, Civil Society for Cancer Eradication in Nigeria (CISCANEN), Kogi state chapter, has held an enlightenment session with the students of Muslim Community Secondary School, Lokongoma, Lokoja, North Central Nigeria, on the prevalence of cancer disease, its prevention and control measures.
Kogi State co-ordinator of CISCANEN, Mr. Ben Joshua, who addressed the students on on Tuesday, at the school assembly ground, advised the students to take active interest in cancer awareness creation through the cancer sensitization activities of CISCANEN in schools in order to reduce the prevalent rate of cancer infection in the state.
According to Joshua, “Cancer is a deadly disease that kills more than HIV, Malaria and Tuberculosis.
“Cancer is one of the leading causes of death globally, as research shows that about 500,000 new cases of cancer are being diagnosed every year, with over 250,000 deaths recorded annually in Nigeria.
“Globally, there are estimated 20 million new causes of cancer and about 10 million deaths from cancer ailments.”
Joshua said the aim of the awareness campaign was to significantly reduce illnesses and deaths caused by breast and cervical cancer in Kogi State and Nigeria in general.
He said breast cancer can be prevented and controlled by screening and early detection, treatment and palliative care.
He said CISCANEN in conjunction with the management of the Muslim community secondary school, Lokongoma, Lokoja will set up Cancer Sensitization Clubs in the school and other schools in the state capital to knowledge for early detection, diagnoses and treatment of the disease to reduce its scourge, especially among the females who are worst affected by the disease.
“The signs and symptoms of breast cancer include lumps in the breast, nipples discharge, swelling of the breast, irritation of breast skin or nipples, breast or nipple pain and swelling nipples, but if you experience any of these signs, please report to your doctor.”
The team lead also urged the students to beware of unhealthy food habits that could cause obesity and other causes such as smoking of cigarettes, excessive use of alcohol, exposure to sun- radiation, as well as family history and genetics.
He advised the students to always keep healthy weight and engage in physical exercises always to stay healthy in their life time.
“Choose not to drink alcohol and eat fruit on empty stomach always in addition to consulting your doctor before taking birth control pills.”
The zonal co-ordinator of CISCANEN in north central Nigeria, Mrs Rose Alabi, who also addressed the students, said, “We must prevent the cancer from spreading and as such, we are all duty-bound to fight against cancer.”
Alabi appreciated the technical and funding support from CISCANEN national secretariat, the national co-ordinator of CISCANEN, Dr. Adenike Adegoke Elijah and a famous philanthropist in Kogi State, Dr Femi Akande, for their relentless interest and continued support the cancer prevention campaign in the state.
