I have had the privilege of being part of several different activities to mark the International Cancer Week, the most recent being a Symposium held in Abuja on the 27th of October 2021 with my sisters, First Ladies Against Cancer (FLAC) and the Honourable Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire. This meeting gave me the opportunity to share my experience in fighting this disease and to remember many dear Cross River women lost to this terrible disease within the last 7 years.
The cancer burden continues to grow globally, regionally, and locally exerting tremendous physical, emotional, and financial strain on individuals, families, communities, and health systems. Many health systems in low- and middle-income countries are least prepared to manage this burden. Regrettably, cancer patients in Cross River State are not spared as they face a myriad of challenges including limited access to timely quality diagnosis and treatment occasioned by poverty; lack of, or late detection; socio-cultural norms; and, unprofessional care practices. Consequently, I have, through my NGOs, Mediatrix Development Foundation (MDF) and Cross River Women Empowerment Initiative (CROWEI) heightened advocacy on cancer in the state to mitigate the deleterious effects posed by cancer through community and school-based interventions to enhance survival rates.
Health education, accessible early detection or screening, quality treatment and survivorship care are the keys to success in this regard! I will continue to sustain and improve collaboration with MDAs, the UN, ARCON, and MWAN (CRS Chapter) to fight this malignant disease until the morbidity and mortality rates are significantly reduced.
Abuja, Nigeria