As part of the efforts to continue raising awareness and sensitisation on cancer among Nigerians, the Borno State Government through Multi Aid and Charity Initiative (MACI) Foundation in collaboration with the World Health Organisation (WHO) conducted a week campaign aimed at increasing people’s awareness on cancer prevention, screening, treatment and the need to support cancer patient.
The Cancer Awareness Walk 2022 tagged, Close the care gap, began earlier this month in time with the World Cancer Day celebration. This event signifies the start of a three-year campaign with the aim of raising global awareness around cancer and its impacts, especially on most vulnerable persons.
The Chief Executive Officer of MACI Foundation, who is also the First Lady of Borno State, Dr Falmata Babagana Zulum, appreciated WHO for its continuous and unrelenting support to saving lives. She acknowledged that the disease could be dealt with if people take health matters seriously.
Also present at the event was WHO Northeast Emergency Manager, Dr Richard Lako, he said, ‘WHO will continue to work closely with the state government to make certain, no vulnerable person that needs basic essential health services is left unattended to.”
“It is imperative to say that cancer is a chronic illness. Sadly, breast, prostate, liver, cervical, and colorectal cancers, account for almost half the new cases on the continent (Africa) annually. The awareness is a response to the call for action and WHO will continue to support the state government to raise awareness about the disease”, he said.
This is one of the initiatives being driven by WHO Africa to promote proper management of cancer in the African region.
Cancer is the second leading cause of death globally, accounting for an estimated 9.6 million deaths, or one in six deaths, in 2018. Lung, prostate, colorectal, stomach and liver cancer are the most common types of cancer in men, while breast, colorectal, lung, cervical and thyroid cancer are the most common among women.
