At least 500 women in different categories have benefitted from free breast cancer screening and mammogram exercises at the Nigerian Navy hospital, Calabar the Cross River State Capital.
The Zonal Director, Eastern Naval Command, Mrs Omotayo Oluwale, opined that poverty is one of the leading causes of cancer fatalities among women who are financially constraint to access screening for early detection.
This according to her is the reason why the command organized free screenings for Naval officers’ wives as well as, Naval ratings’ wives in commemoration of those who have lost loved ones to cancer.
Although it currently has no cure, attention is being shifted to creating awareness, as early diagnosis remains the best cure in order to prevent deaths.
Led by wife of the Flag Officer Commanding, Eastern Naval Command, the awareness walk took off at the Nigeria Navy barracks Akim, through major streets of Calabar and terminated at the Navy Hospital.
All adorned in pink attires which is a breast cancer identity, members of the Naval Officers Wives and Naval Rating Wives Associations, joined in the fight against the disease.
Before the screening, the women were sensitized on the causes of the disease, symptoms to look out for and when to seek immediate health attention.
War Against Cancer
Stressing on the essence of the sensitization walk, the coordinator of the event said that the free screening and mammogramming was the Navy’s way of giving back to the society in order for more women to be aware of their breast cancer status.
A health talk was later given by a doctor at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University Of Calabar Teaching Hospital, (UCTH), Dr. Chinyere Akpawikato, where she enlightened the women more on the disease.
A group of Public Health workers had on Tuesday, embarked on a cancer awareness walk with similar objectives in Calabar.
Breast cancer has been Identified as the second leading cause of death after lung cancer.
Research has shown that an endless list of reasons can be responsible for cancer among which are: unhealthy lifestyles, technology advancement as well as genetics.
The war against cancer has also been ongoing in several other states of the federation.
This includes recent activities in Ogun state, southwest Nigeria, where the wife of State Governor, Mrs Olufunso Amosun, donated an ultra-modern cancer centre each at the general hospital in Abeokuta and Sango, as well as the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital in Sagamu area of the state.
This according to her, was in a bid to avert unnecessary deaths as a result of cancer.