The Ogun State First Lady, Mrs Bamidele Abiodun, through her Ajose Foundation and in collaboration with First Ladies against Cancer (FLAC), Roche Pharmaceuticals and the State Ministry of Health, has declared free breast cancer tests for 10,000 women across the State over the next two years.
Mrs Abiodun made this disclosure at the official opening of the State FLAC Breast Cancer Screening Clinic, at Oba Ademola Hospital, Abeokuta, Ogun State on Wednesday.
According to her, breast cancer accounts for twenty percent of all cancer-related deaths and Ogun State is the second State after Kwara to have the FLAC cancer screening clinic in Nigeria.
Appreciating Roche Pharmaceuticals for giving priority to Ogun State, the First Lady emphasised that early diagnosis increased the chances of survival, saying the clinic offered early detection, timely intervention and sustained care to the public.
In her goodwill message, Wife of the former Governor of Kebbi State, who is also the former Chairperson of FLAC and President of Union of International Cancer Control, Dr Zainab Bagudu, advised women to make use of the clinic judiciously by going for cancer screening as soon as they notice any lump in their breasts, rather than resorting to pseudo-medical practices that could become fatal over time.
Also speaking, current Chairperson of FLAC and First Lady of Imo State, Barr. Chioma Uzodinma, said the collaboration was crucial in advancing the shared goal of present and past First Ladies in fighting cancer to a standstill in Nigeria, adding that the clinic would bring screening services to those who needed it the most.
In his remarks, the General Manager of Roche Pharmaceuticals, Dr Ladi Hameed, promised his organisation’s continued technical expertise in collaboration with the State Ministry of Health towards ensuring sustainability of the screening and treatment services in the State.
Speaking with journalists, Chief Medical Director, Oba Ademola Maternity Hospital, Dr Olugbenga Taiwo, disclosed that the clinic would run on Mondays and Thursdays of every week, adding that this was to ensure regular access and wide coverage of the screening services.
A cancer survivor Mrs. Funmilola Agbayewa, said the breast cancer diagnostic clinic came at the right time when women need to be highly conscious of their breast cancer status, noting that while battling with the breast cancer 8 years ago, such privilege was not available to her.
The event concluded with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding by the First Lady, the Commissioner for Health and the General Manager, Roche Pharmaceuticals.
