By Tony Adibe
The Enugu State Government has advised residents to modify their life-style, engage in physical exercise and do regular cancer checks and screenings to remove cancer from their lives.
The Executive Secretary of Enugu State Primary Health Care Development Agency (ENS-PHCDA), Dr George Ugwu gave the advice in Enugu as the state commemorates the World Cancer Day.
The Enugu State World Cancer Day celebration, which was themed: “Close the Care Gap”, was organised by ENS-PHCDA and G20+ Enugu Diaspora Support UK and Ireland on Saturday in line with the World Cancer Day celebration.
NewsBits recalls that the WHO had set aside Feb. 4 as World Cancer Day; in order to create awareness and action towards regular screening, early detection and treatment of cancer. Dr Ugwu said that cancer should be given due attention by all through improved life-style of personal cleanliness, good eating habits and balanced diet, avoiding alcohol and involving in regular exercise while shunning sedentary life-style.
He explained that this year, Enugu State Government “is creating robust awareness on cancer prevention” by asking our people to take regular cancer checks and screenings seriously as early detection is key to treatment of all cancer types.
He said: “For this year, we are focusing on cervical cancer, and we have taken our advocacy and awareness to young girls, young mothers and older women for all to know what to do and to be pro-active in the prevention of cancer.
“Screening on cervical cancer has been on for female of all ages after our five-kilometer cancer walk within Enugu metropolis in the morning today. We graciously received over 300 doses of cervical cancer vaccines from one of our partners (G20+ Enugu Diaspora Support UK and Ireland), which will be later administered to those screened especially young girls.”
He thanked Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi for his great attention to health and well being of the residents especially the rural dwellers through numerous activities ongoing at Primary Healthcare Centres (PHC) in the state.
“Just in December 2022, we introduced free Rota-virus vaccines to protect our children; as well lessen the huge financial burden on families in getting the Rota-virus vaccines administered to their children. This and many more vaccination ongoing in PHCs and regular immunization campaigns are meant to reduce the overall disease and health burden in the state especially among the rural dwellers and downtrodden,” he said.
Earlier, Special Adviser to Gov. Ugwuanyi on Diaspora Matter, Mrs Olangwa Ezekwu, thanked G20+ Enugu Diaspora Support UK and Ireland also known as Barrister Peter Mbah Support Group UK and Ireland for partnering government to promote cervical cancer treatment.
“We are sincerely grateful for your concern and support to our health sector and people especially to our girls and mothers to access expensive cervical vaccination free-of-charge,” Ezekwu said.
Also speaking, Chairman of the state House of Assembly Committee on Health, Mr Sam Ngene, said that the state house of assembly would continue to identify and promote every move to improve the health of the people.
“We will continue to support government in its bid to provide qualitative healthcare to all especially the poor among our people, who cannot easily afford it,” Ngene said.
The event featured a five-kilometer walk, which international and local health partners participated in, as well as cervical cancer screening for all female and distribution of cancer awareness fliers among others.
