Otti’s Wife Rallies Stakeholders in Campaign to Stem Rising Cancer Menace in Abia, Harps on Prevention

Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo in Umuahia

Wife of Abia State Governor, Mrs. Priscilla Chidinma Otti, has urged Abia women, health professionals and other stakeholders to join hands to push back the prevalence of cancer disease in the state.

She made the call at the 2024 Abia State Cancer Awareness Day held in Umuahia, noting that “we are witnessing a rising cancer rate in Abia despite the current strides in the health sector.

“More than ever, it has become essential that we work together, hands on deck, boots on ground to create a healthier, cancer-free future for our communities,” she said.

Mrs. Otti said that the state was aiming for outright prevention of the disease, especially breast and cervical cancer, through massive awareness campaigns, regular screening and education.

“Early detection and prevention remain critical to reversing this unfortunate trend,” she said, adding that time has come for  “robust action” on the part of “every individual, family, and community to unite in the fight against cancer.

The Abia first lady stressed the need to work as a team “to ensure that cancer prevention and treatment services are accessible to all, regardless of their background or financial situation”.

She insisted that “every woman in Abia State deserves access to cancer screening, vaccination and, where needed, effective treatment”.

To match her words with action, Mrs. Otti donated N10 million to assist three underprivileged female patients in funding their cancer treatment, given that such health situation usually impose “financial strain on individuals and their families”.

In addition, she announced that her office would give free mammogram screening and Pap smear screenings to 50 women selected randomly at the event.

“This is part of our mission to reach those who might otherwise not have access to these life-saving services,” she said.

The Abia governor’s wife stated that though “awareness is key to cancer prevention”, it is not a stand alone preventive measure as “maintaining a healthy lifestyle, managing stress, and avoiding known risk factors are also critical steps in preventing cancer”.

In his remarks, the State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Enoch Uche, said that cancer which he described as “ageless disease of humanity” has continued to wreck health havoc across the world.

He said that one in five people would likely develop cancer in their life time, adding that gender wise, one in eight men and one in 11 women would have the disease.

Uche further noted that records indicate that the twould rise by over 85 percent in the nect 15 years hence the need to reverse the trend through increased awareness, and enhanced cost-effective treatment.

Earlier in her opening address, the State Director of Public Health, Princess Agomuo, said that the cancer awareness day campaign was a demonstration of Abia’s commitment “to confront one of the health challenges of our time”.

Health experts, including the National President of Nigeria Association of Medical Women, Prof. Rosemary Ogu of University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital(UPTH) were on hand to sensitive people on the cancer disease.