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By Segilola Babalola
Senator Ademola Adeleke, the Governor of Osun State, has initiated a robust campaign, under the Nigeria for Women Project, operating under the slogan,”Say No to Breast and Cervical Cancer.” This campaign is currently underway in three local government areas within the state: Ifedayo Local Government (Oke-Ila), Olaoluwa Local Government (Bode Osi) and Atakumosa East Local Government.
The Governor made this announcement during a sensitization and awareness campaign organized by the State Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the World Bank, with a focus on breast and cervical cancer. This event took place in Ifedayo Local Government, Oke-Ila.
Represented by Dr. Famakinwa Olalekan, the Director of Planning and Research in the Ministry of Health, the Governor highlighted the programme’s broader objective, which is to enhance the overall well-being of women in Osun State, acknowledging that women face numerous challenges, including those related to their health.
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Dr. Famakinwa further noted the increasing prevalence of breast and cervical cancer in contemporary times, pointing to current statistics indicating that 12,000 patients are diagnosed in Nigeria each year, with 8,000 of them tragically succumbing to these diseases by the end of the year.
Dr. Famakinwa also revealed that a hundred women from each local government will benefit from free screenings for cervical and breast cancer, adding that woman diagonised at an early stage will receive free medications for the treatment and prevention of these cancers.
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He added that the programme is currently being piloted in 16 states across the Federation out of which Osun is privileged to be one saying, “Thisis a testament to the proactive measures taken by the Governor since assuming leadership in the State”
Mr. Folorunsho Tomori, the Vocal Officer for the Nigeria for Women Project in Osun, representing the Ministry of Economic Planning, Budget, and Development, highlighted the programme’s focus on poverty reduction and its exploration of the relationship between poverty and health.
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The Osun State Family Planning Coordinator, Mrs. Margaret Abatan, and the Reproductive Health Coordinator, Mrs. Toyin Adelowokan, conducted sessions to educate women about the symptoms of breast and cervical cancer. They emphasized the risk associated with cervical cancer for women who have ever had sexual intercourse and encouraged women to perform breast self-examinations after their menstruation to check for any lump.