The Enugu State Government has urged residents to modify their lifestyles, engage in physical exercise and do regular cancer checks and screenings to wade off cancer from their lives.
Dr George Ugwu, Executive Secretary of Enugu State Primary Health Care Development Agency (ENS-PHCDA) gave the advice in Enugu on Saturday as the state commemorates the World Cancer Day.
The World Cancer Day celebration, which was themed: “Close the Care Gap”, was organised by ENS-PHCDA and G20+ Enugu Diaspora Support UK and Ireland.
Ugwu said that cancer should be given due attention by all through improved lifestyles of personal cleanliness, good eating habits and balance diet, avoiding alcohol and involving in regular exercise while shunning sedentary life-style.
“This year, Enugu State Government is creating robust awareness on cancer prevention by asking our people to take regular cancer checks and screenings seriously as early detection is key to treatment of all cancer types.
“We are focusing on cervical cancer and we have taken our advocacy and awareness to young girls, young mothers and older women for all to know what to do and to be proactive in the prevention of cancer.
“Screening on cervical cancer has been on for female of all ages after our five kilometer cancer walk within Enugu metropolis in the morning today.
“We graciously received over 300 doses of cervical cancer vaccines from one of our partners (G20+ Enugu Diaspora Support UK and Ireland), which will be later administered to those screened especially young girls,” he said.
The executive secretary thanked Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi for his support to health and well being of the residents especially the rural dwellers through numerous activities ongoing at Primary Healthcare Centres (PHC) in the state.
Ugwu vowed to leave no stone unturned to see that Enugu State continued to be first in healthcare provision and delivery in the country.
“Just in December 2022, we introduced free Rotavirus vaccines to protect our children as well as lessen the huge financial burden on families in getting the Rotavirus vaccines administered to their children.
“This and many more vaccination ongoing in PHCs and regular immunization campaigns are meant to reduce the overall disease and health burden in the state especially among the rural dwellers and downtrodden,” he said.
Earlier, Special Adviser to Gov. Ugwuanyi on Diaspora Matter, Mrs Olangwa Ezekwu, thanked G20+ Enugu Diaspora Support UK and Ireland also known as Barrister Peter Mbah Support Group UK and Ireland for partnering government to promote cervical cancer treatment.
“We are sincerely grateful for your concern and support to our health sector and people especially to our girls and mothers to access expensive cervical vaccination free-of-charge,” Ezekwu said.
Speaking, Chairman of the state House of Assembly Committee on Health, Mr Sam Ngene, said that the assembly would continue to identify and promote every move to improve the health of the people.
“We will continue to support government in its bid to provide qualitative healthcare to all especially the poor among our people, who cannot easily afford it,” Ngene said.
The event featured a five kilometer walk, which international and local health partners participated in, cervical cancer screening for all female as well as distribution of cancer awareness fliers among others.
It would be recalled that the WHO had set aside Feb. 4 as World Cancer Day to create awareness and action towards regular screening, early detection and treatment of cancer.