Martins Ifijeh
A non-governmental organisation, Niola Cancer Care, has lend it voice to the high incidence rate of mortality cancers in Nigeria, especially colon cancer.
Speaking during a visit and donation of gift items to cancer patients in Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), the chairperson of the organisation, Mrs. Eniola Salu, expressed concern that colon cancer patients were not given adequate attention needed to manage their health issue, just as cervical and breast cancer were being given attention.
She said there were a lot of Nigerians battling colon cancer who need care, adding that, that was why her organisation was creating awareness against the relatively unknown cancer spectrum.
“What inspired our donation here today is because of how I lost my late husband to cancer. On my website, I wrote about the story that redefined my living.
“Why I chose Christmas Day for the visit is because on this special day cancer patients need love. The survival rate for colon cancer is much better than cervical cancer but the death on colon cancer is on the high side because there is no strong awareness on it,” she said.
In a bid to reduce the high mortality rate caused by cancer, she revealed the launching of a cancer screening centre which will cut across the six-geopolitical zones of Nigeria.
She added that the screening centre will render services on early detection of cancer for early treatment, which according to her will reduce the death rate.
“We are planning on launching the foundation, Niola Cancer Care Foundation and we are launching with a project; the colon cancer screening centre in the six-geopolitical zone of the federation. The more we raise funds for the cancer patients on time, the more their survival rate. If detected early through screening and awareness creation, the mortality rate will drop,” she explained.
She therefore called on Nigerians to avoid risk factors for cancer
