As Abuja Women Forum tours market, offers free screening
Alex Enumah in Abuja
As Nigerians join the rest of the world to mark the 2024 World Cancer Day, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has called on its members to begin to give priority to their health in order to be able to offer quality legal services to their clients.
Chairperson of the NBA Bwari Women Forum, Bukola Ayisire, while emphasising the importance of prioritising health, categorically stated that “Dead Lawyers don’t work”. She gave the charge over the weekend, during a Cancer Awareness Walk and sensitisation of the people of Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory ( FCT), Abuja.
Besides the walk, the Forum carried out a free screening and fitness challenge at the popular Dutse Market, Bwari Abuja.
“A Lawyer being responsible for another human being is a difficult task, and in a bid to carry out their legal duty, they tend to neglect taking care of their own wellness. In their quest to provide the best service for their clients, they must strive to take good care of themselves.”
The chairperson further urged that, as guardians of justice, Lawyers should be united in their commitment to raise awareness, foster support, and advocate for those affected by the cancer disease.
She claimed that, available records show an estimated 18.1 million cancer cases around the world in 2020, of which 9.3 million cases were in men and 8.8 million in women.
“In the US 1 in 2 women and 1 in 3 men, will develop cancer during their lifetime. The Director General of the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment, Prof Usman Aliyi said over 120,000 new cases are recorded yearly in Nigeria.
Ayisire however, called on the Government to take crucial policy steps to ensure healthcare equity, fund and support the NHIS by the NBA welfare, to include persons suffering from these diseases.
“With greater awareness and policy action, Nigeria will close the Cancer care gap”, she added.
