Kwara state government has screened over 4,000 women in 14 out of 16 local government areas of the state in the ongoing breast and cervical cancer screening and treatment among different ages of women.
Speaking during one of the screening exercises at Cottage Hospital Osi, Ekiti local government area of the state on Tuesday, the state commissioner for Health, Dr Raji Rasaq, said the purpose for the screening and treatment is to kick cancer out of Kwara state through the use of modern equipment.
The commissioner, who said the project was organised by the state government in collaboration with Monitor Health Care limited, added that some of the local government areas already covered include Baruten, Kaiama, Edu, Patigi, Moro, Ifelodun, Offa, Oyun, Oke-Ero, Irepodun, Ilorin West, Ilorin East, Asa and Ekiti local government areas.
He also said the present administration in the state has concentrated on some diseases that are of public health importance, such as malaria, HIV, tuberculosis and cancer.
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“The purpose for the screening and treatment is to kick cancer out of Kwara state through the use of modern equipment that will detect cancer cell and label a patient cancer-free”, he said.
He also said that the administration aimed to sustain the programme by incorporating it into routine investigation across primary and secondary health care system of the state.
“After the screening, we are moving to the next level whereby a patient can just approach any government facilities and get free cancer screening and treatment”, he said.
He urged people to utilize the opportunities and present themselves for screening, saying they should patronize government hospitals in their areas.
Also speaking, the Chief Executive Officer, Monitor Health care limited Dr Femi Ogunremi, advised women to avail themselves of the opportunity to get tested, saying that early detection of cancer saves lives.
He said that cancer is a major cause of mortality in developing countries, adding that regular screening is advisable to reduce the rate of mortality.
Ogunremi advised women to listen to their body message and to always report any abnormalities in their bodies to health care providers for appropriate treatment.
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