Bukola Adebayo
Wife of the Presiding Bishop, The Redeemed Evangelical Mission, Bishop Peace Okonkwo, has urged women to reduce their risks for cervical cancer by screening regularly for the disease.
She made this call at a free medical mission organised by the Providing Early Attention for Cancer Everywhere Campaign Initiative as part of activities marking her 65th birthday at the TREM Headquarters in Lagos.
Okonkwo said after seeing the number of people dying from the preventable and treatable disease, she had decided to provide a platform where women could be sensitised and screened to ensure early detection of the disease.
According to her, over 8,000 Nigerian women have benefitted from the exercise which began five years ago while over 15,000 people have enjoyed free medical checkup and financial assistance prescribed by the doctors on the team.
“I was at a seminar and saw how Nigerian women were dying early because of cervical cancer. This is a disease that can be treated when detected early. It can also be prevented when girls are vaccinated.
“More awareness also needs to be created through medical programmes like this. So, women, especially those in rural areas, will be able to meet with experts and be screened and linked up for treatment,” Okonkwo said.
She, however, urged philanthropists, well meaning Nigerians, corporate organisations, NGOs and other religious bodies to support health initiatives especially as the country is at present undergoing recession.
According to her, poverty is a major reason why many Nigerians are dying of treatable diseases.
Okonkwo said, “Health care cannot be a priority for someone who can only afford one meal a day in this recession. Nigerians are dying because of poverty and we must all rise to help. I know how much we have committed to this programme but one life saved is priceless.”
At the event, over 1,000 persons were screened for hypertension and diabetes, with Okonkwo saying the Eye Foundation had promised free cataract surgeries for affected patients.
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