General
PHOTOS:SEE ANAMBRA’S FIRST LADY AS SHE LEADS OTHER WOMEN TO END CANCER
A bid to create awareness on the need to check the rising cases of cancer in Nigeria received a big boost Friday,
when the wife of Anambra State governor, Chief (Mrs.) Ebelechukwun
Obiano led a road campaign march tagged “Walk for Hope to End Cancer
Now” to create awareness on the cancer scourge and raise fund for the
establishment of an Ultra-modern Cancer Treatment Centre in Awka,
Anambra State.
The
awareness march which was organized by the Anambra State Association
(ASA) Women USA in collaboration with the Office of the Wife of Governor
of Anambra State, Anambra Broadcasting Service (ABS), Anambra State
Women Association Lagos, Breast without Spot and Saint Charles
Borromeo Hospital, Onitsha has as its theme: “Every Life Deserves
World Class Care.” The march preceded a seminar at the field of the ABS,
Awka, witnessed the campaigners comprising of young and old men and
women trek more than two and half kilometres from ABS complex through
Aroma Junction en route Enugu-Onitsha Expressway to the Office of the
Governor, before terminating at the Office of the Wife of the Governor.
awareness march which was organized by the Anambra State Association
(ASA) Women USA in collaboration with the Office of the Wife of Governor
of Anambra State, Anambra Broadcasting Service (ABS), Anambra State
Women Association Lagos, Breast without Spot and Saint Charles
Borromeo Hospital, Onitsha has as its theme: “Every Life Deserves
World Class Care.” The march preceded a seminar at the field of the ABS,
Awka, witnessed the campaigners comprising of young and old men and
women trek more than two and half kilometres from ABS complex through
Aroma Junction en route Enugu-Onitsha Expressway to the Office of the
Governor, before terminating at the Office of the Wife of the Governor.
Speaking
after receiving the campaigners, Governor Willie Obiano who spoke
through the Commissioner for Information, Chief Tony Onyima lauded the
visit and expressed the hope that the walk would draw more attention to
the proposed Cancer Treatment Centre being embarked upon by the ASA
Women USA with the support of the State government.
after receiving the campaigners, Governor Willie Obiano who spoke
through the Commissioner for Information, Chief Tony Onyima lauded the
visit and expressed the hope that the walk would draw more attention to
the proposed Cancer Treatment Centre being embarked upon by the ASA
Women USA with the support of the State government.
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President
Anambra State Association (ASA) Women USA, Dr. Mrs. Uche Umeh, Special Assistant, Primary Health, Dr. Chioma Ezenyimulu and Anambra State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Joe Akabuike during the Walk for Hope to End Cancer Now held in Awka during the weekend. |
Earlier
in an address to the participants, the wife of the governor, Chief
(Mrs.) Obiano represented by the Senior Special Assistant to the
Governor on Primary Health, Dr. Mrs. Chioma Ezenyimulu identified with
the mission of the organizers to promote this noble and selfless
initiative of Walk for Hope to End Cancer, stressing that “It is
interesting that you chose this avenue of physical exercise of Walk to
draw attention and create awareness about the threat of Cancer and the
need for its early detection and prevention especially amongst our
women.”
in an address to the participants, the wife of the governor, Chief
(Mrs.) Obiano represented by the Senior Special Assistant to the
Governor on Primary Health, Dr. Mrs. Chioma Ezenyimulu identified with
the mission of the organizers to promote this noble and selfless
initiative of Walk for Hope to End Cancer, stressing that “It is
interesting that you chose this avenue of physical exercise of Walk to
draw attention and create awareness about the threat of Cancer and the
need for its early detection and prevention especially amongst our
women.”
While
commending the association’s focus and think-home philosophy which
informed the idea of hosting the event back home, Chief (Mrs.) Obiano
expressed her gratitude with her choice and decoration as The Grand
Marshal of the Day, which she said was an acknowledgement of “her
interest in ensuring that anything that would advance the well-being of
the family and the woman must be tackled with a sense of duty and
commitment.
`
“I
know that apart from the sacrifices of time, you have also put-in
enormous resources to sustain your association and the organization of
this Walk for Hope to End Cancer Now! It is a fitting call to action
which must be embraced by all and sundry since cancer is a disease that
knows neither age nor gender and does not have any quick fix other than
early detection and prevention. It is against this background that I
encourage Ndi Anambra and other health conscious citizens to contribute
to the Fundraising for this programme by donating to the cause. Mrs.
Obiano observed.
know that apart from the sacrifices of time, you have also put-in
enormous resources to sustain your association and the organization of
this Walk for Hope to End Cancer Now! It is a fitting call to action
which must be embraced by all and sundry since cancer is a disease that
knows neither age nor gender and does not have any quick fix other than
early detection and prevention. It is against this background that I
encourage Ndi Anambra and other health conscious citizens to contribute
to the Fundraising for this programme by donating to the cause. Mrs.
Obiano observed.
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Furthermore the
wife of the governor said, “I have no doubt that this Walk for Hope to
End cancer would boost awareness about cancer amongst Ndi Anambra
especially our women and hopefully lead to more early detections and
positive actions that would dispel the erroneous impressions, rumours
and beliefs that influence people’s lack of urgency in seeking medical
help. My hope is that today many more persons would hear this message of
hope and tell others thereby spreading the gospel which would
ultimately help many avoid and survive the scourge of cancer.”
wife of the governor said, “I have no doubt that this Walk for Hope to
End cancer would boost awareness about cancer amongst Ndi Anambra
especially our women and hopefully lead to more early detections and
positive actions that would dispel the erroneous impressions, rumours
and beliefs that influence people’s lack of urgency in seeking medical
help. My hope is that today many more persons would hear this message of
hope and tell others thereby spreading the gospel which would
ultimately help many avoid and survive the scourge of cancer.”
Chief
(Mrs.) Ebelechukwu Obiano, Founder of Caring Family Enhancement
Initiative (CAFÉ) noted that this Walk for Hope awareness tallies with
some of the programmes undertaken by her pet project to empower women
and take care of the less privileged in the society, asserting that “as
we travel through the nooks and crannies of Anambra State we carry the
message of Hope against cancer to our women, mothers and sisters and
teach them ways of testing themselves for early detection and prevention
of cancer.”
(Mrs.) Ebelechukwu Obiano, Founder of Caring Family Enhancement
Initiative (CAFÉ) noted that this Walk for Hope awareness tallies with
some of the programmes undertaken by her pet project to empower women
and take care of the less privileged in the society, asserting that “as
we travel through the nooks and crannies of Anambra State we carry the
message of Hope against cancer to our women, mothers and sisters and
teach them ways of testing themselves for early detection and prevention
of cancer.”
According
to Mrs. Obiano, CAFÉ is a non-governmental, nonpartisan organization
with a vision to be the beacon of sustainable empowerment for women and
the less privileged, has the mandate “to care for the less privileged
and reduce women-child vulnerability while maintaining the dignity of
persons with disabilities in Anambra state. CAFÉ also galvanizes
resources for the uplifting of orphans, children in need and the
physically challenged. CAFÉ attends to both skilled and non-skilled
persons as well as indigent rural women in the177 communities of Anambra
state.”
to Mrs. Obiano, CAFÉ is a non-governmental, nonpartisan organization
with a vision to be the beacon of sustainable empowerment for women and
the less privileged, has the mandate “to care for the less privileged
and reduce women-child vulnerability while maintaining the dignity of
persons with disabilities in Anambra state. CAFÉ also galvanizes
resources for the uplifting of orphans, children in need and the
physically challenged. CAFÉ attends to both skilled and non-skilled
persons as well as indigent rural women in the177 communities of Anambra
state.”
She
also urged the organizers and participants to take advantage of the
overall improving infrastructure and conditions of life made possible by
the administration of her husband, governor Obiano (Akpokuodike) to
make it an annual event so that “we will attract more converts towards
the cause of cancer prevention and eradication. As we look forward to
next year’s edition of Walk for Hope to End Cancer, I urge you to make
today’s Walk memorable – let’s make more converts! Spread the gospel and
prevent cancer.”
also urged the organizers and participants to take advantage of the
overall improving infrastructure and conditions of life made possible by
the administration of her husband, governor Obiano (Akpokuodike) to
make it an annual event so that “we will attract more converts towards
the cause of cancer prevention and eradication. As we look forward to
next year’s edition of Walk for Hope to End Cancer, I urge you to make
today’s Walk memorable – let’s make more converts! Spread the gospel and
prevent cancer.”
In
her remark, the National President of ASA Women USA, Dr. Mrs. Uche Umeh
revealed that the idea of the programme came about following repeated
manifestation of cancer in women mostly in the rural areas during the
2009 and 2010 as well as 2013 and 2014 ASA Women USA Medical Missions on
cancer and maternal health, lamenting that indigent women lack access
to fund for adequate health care.
her remark, the National President of ASA Women USA, Dr. Mrs. Uche Umeh
revealed that the idea of the programme came about following repeated
manifestation of cancer in women mostly in the rural areas during the
2009 and 2010 as well as 2013 and 2014 ASA Women USA Medical Missions on
cancer and maternal health, lamenting that indigent women lack access
to fund for adequate health care.
Dr.
Mrs. Umeh stated that ASA Women USA has acquired a parcel of land at
the Anambra State University Teaching Hospital Amaku – Awka, for the
construction and equipping of a world-class Cancer Treatment Centre
covering construction and equipment cost to the tune between 80 to 100
million US Dollars.
Mrs. Umeh stated that ASA Women USA has acquired a parcel of land at
the Anambra State University Teaching Hospital Amaku – Awka, for the
construction and equipping of a world-class Cancer Treatment Centre
covering construction and equipment cost to the tune between 80 to 100
million US Dollars.
The
Commissioner for health, Dr. Joe Akabuike said the best way to prevent
cancer was by early detection and treatment while the Managing Director
of ABS, Mr. Uche Nworah assured the ASA Women USA and others
participants of continued partnership of the Radio-Television Station to
promote its cause and interests of raising awareness on cancer and
building cancer centre.
Commissioner for health, Dr. Joe Akabuike said the best way to prevent
cancer was by early detection and treatment while the Managing Director
of ABS, Mr. Uche Nworah assured the ASA Women USA and others
participants of continued partnership of the Radio-Television Station to
promote its cause and interests of raising awareness on cancer and
building cancer centre.
Also
speaking, the Nigerian Coordinator of ASA Women USA, Hon. Dr. Bridget
Obi expressed amazement at the massive turn out of people to identify
with the event organized to create awareness on the cancer scourge,
raise fund as well as rally support for the Ultra-Modern ASA Women
Cancer Centre and commended the National President and her team for
sacrificing their time, energy and money in ameliorating the plight of
the sufferers of cancer.
She stated that the Walk for Hope to End
Cancer would achieve its desired result in the shortest possible time
and bring hope to patients especially the indigent ones.
speaking, the Nigerian Coordinator of ASA Women USA, Hon. Dr. Bridget
Obi expressed amazement at the massive turn out of people to identify
with the event organized to create awareness on the cancer scourge,
raise fund as well as rally support for the Ultra-Modern ASA Women
Cancer Centre and commended the National President and her team for
sacrificing their time, energy and money in ameliorating the plight of
the sufferers of cancer.
She stated that the Walk for Hope to End
Cancer would achieve its desired result in the shortest possible time
and bring hope to patients especially the indigent ones.
The
President of Breast Without Spot, one of the participating groups at
the ceremony, Professor Ifeoma J. Okoye, a Professor of
Radiology, disclosed that the walk was necessitated by ignorance of
people to embrace early medical attention to prevent development of full
blown cancer, with the result that cases of death from cancer were put,
by her at 17, 000 daily.She lamented that over 70,000 Nigerians
including men travel to India especially for Cancer-related cases
regretting that most sufferers seek for medical attention late when the
disease had developed to the third and fourth stages of hopelessness.
Prof.
Okoye who is a Consultant radiology at the University of Nigeria
Teaching Hospital, Ituku – Ozalla, Enugu State and Chairperson
Association for Good Clinical Practice in Nigeria gave hope that “cancer
is curable” especially cervical cancer if detected early enough,
stressing that there was need to upscale vaccine programme, embark on
regular clinical examination and mammography as well as improve
general awareness creation especially using the media of communication.
The event attracted senior government officials, members of ASA Women
USA, Breast without Spot, Federal Road Safety Corps, Security agencies,
civil society organizations and media houses.
Okoye who is a Consultant radiology at the University of Nigeria
Teaching Hospital, Ituku – Ozalla, Enugu State and Chairperson
Association for Good Clinical Practice in Nigeria gave hope that “cancer
is curable” especially cervical cancer if detected early enough,
stressing that there was need to upscale vaccine programme, embark on
regular clinical examination and mammography as well as improve
general awareness creation especially using the media of communication.
The event attracted senior government officials, members of ASA Women
USA, Breast without Spot, Federal Road Safety Corps, Security agencies,
civil society organizations and media houses.
