The Abia State Government, through the Office of the Wife of the Governor, has donated ₦10 million to three cancer patients—Ola Mba, Ndukwe Onyinye, and Odochimere Nwokoma—to support their treatment and prevent further spread of the disease.
Mrs. Priscilla Otti, the wife of the Governor, led Abia women on an awareness walk around Umuahia, the state capital, to mark Cancer Awareness Day 2024. She described cancer as a silent killer that has become a global health concern, particularly among women.
She noted that the donation aims to ease the financial burden of treatment for the beneficiaries, helping to improve their chances of recovery.
“Across Nigeria, nearly 28,000 cases of breast cancer and 14,000 new cases of cervical cancer are diagnosed annually. Among men, there is an alarming rise in prostate and colon cancer cases,” Mrs. Otti stated.
She added, “Abia State is not immune to this trend. Despite advancements in healthcare, we are seeing increasing cancer rates. Early detection and prevention are critical to reversing this unfortunate trend.”
Mrs. Otti stressed that breast cancer, if detected early, can be cured before it spreads, while cervical cancer is almost entirely preventable through regular screening and HPV vaccination.
The First Lady also announced that 50 participants in the campaign would be randomly selected to receive free mammograms and Pap smear screenings, adding that this initiative complements Governor Alex Otti’s strides in the healthcare sector.
“These actions align with Governor Otti’s commitment to healthcare, demonstrated by allocating 15% of the 2024 state budget to healthcare and the ongoing refurbishment of 200 primary healthcare centers across the state,” she said.
The event also featured insights from the Commissioner for Health, Prof. Enoch Ogbonnaya Uche, who described the awareness campaign as a significant step in the fight against cancer.
Guest speaker Dr. Orieji Agomuo defined cancer as the uncontrolled growth of cells in the human body and listed key risk factors, including age, gender, genetics, poor diet, infections, smoking, and excessive alcohol consumption.
She emphasized the importance of prevention through regular screenings, vaccination, lifestyle changes, exercise, and early detection. “If we can prevent cancer through these steps, there will be no need for a cure,” she concluded.
