Breast/Cervical Cancer: Osun Govt, World Bank Examine 300 Rural Women

No less than 300 women across three local government areas in Osun state have benefitted from free breast examination and cervical cancer awareness programme organised by the state government in partnership with the World Bank.

The state government made this known on Thursday during a 3-day sensitisation and awareness program tagged Nigeria For Women Project and themed “Say No to breast and cervical cancer”.

The sensitisation programme was held in three local government areas of the state; Oke-Ila in Ifedayo LGA, Ogbaagba in Olaoluwa LGA and Iwara in Atakumosa East LGA.

Speaking at the event, the State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, who was represented by the Director of Planning and Research at Ministry of Health, Dr. Famakinwa Olalekan noted that the programme is aimed at improving women’s healthy life generally since their body is prone to different ailments due to child bearing and breastfeeding.

He explained that recent statistics in Nigeria revealed that 12,000 patients tested positive to cancer per year, 8,000 die before year end, adding that ailments like cancer can be easily treated if discovered early enough before it gets to the last stage.

“Minimum of 100 women from each chosen Local Government areas will benefit from the free screening, while anyone found positive at the early stage of test shall be given free drugs for treatment and prevention.

“This sensitisation and awareness campaign program is being piloted in 16 States of the Federation and Osun is lucky to be among the States. This is due to the proactive measures put in place by the Governor since he took over the mantle of leadership in the state”.

The State’s Family Planning Coordinator, Mrs Margaret Abatan urged the beneficiaries to regularly do self breast examination by looking out for symptoms like breast skin color change, lumps and others, adding that women of age 35 and above should go for cervical screening and go for checkup after 6 month.