BY OLUWATOSIN IGHOTEGUONO
Nigerians have been advised to shun all acts capable of predisposing them to cancer and embrace regular medical check for early detection of the disease.
A Medical expert with the federal medical centre, owo in ondo state, Dr Oluwabukola Akinwalere gave the advice while speaking on the occasion of this year’s world cancer day.
Correspondent, Oluwatosin Ighoteguono in this report finds out how cancer can be prevented and manage effectively.
The world health organisation WHO, says Cancer is the second leading cause of death globally, accounting for 72,000 deaths and 102,000 new cases in Nigeria annually.
To halt this ugly trend, the Union for International Cancer Control picked a single agenda under the campaign for this year’s World Cancer Day with the theme, ‘Close the care gap: Everyone deserves access to cancer care which is part of a 3-year long campaign from 2022 to 2024.
Supporting this position is a medical expert with the Federal Medical Centre, Owo, Dr Olubukola Akinwalere said the theme was also to eliminate all barriers to cancer care for a healthier life.
Dr Akinwalere charged government to make treatment centres available in all states of the federation for early detection while people should avoid risk factors such as lack of regular medical check, consumption of junk foods, exposure to radiation, lack of exercise among others .
Dr Akinwalere harped on early detection of cancer cases for effective management.
Two residents of Akure, Mrs Bisi Omolona and Dr Victoria Sholagbade advised people to take precautionary measures against cancer while also calling on government to make cancer screening free in all public hospitals for early detection and treatment.
Mrs Omolona and Dr Sholagbade also stressed the need for more awareness through the media on the prevention of cancer to reduce cases of the disease among Nigerians.