Akeredolu Advocates More Support For Cancer Patients

Akeredolu Advocates More Support For Cancer Patients

Wife of Ondo State Governor and founder of Breast Cancer Association of Nigeria, BRECAN, Her Excellency, Chief Mrs Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, wants Nigerians to always identify with cancer patients in the area of financial support, as it is one of the forces needed to beat cancer as a life-threatening disease.

Speaking to newsmen at a fund-raising dinner organized by PROJECT PINK BLUE, tagged: “Show Love” at the Congress Hall of Transcorp Hilton Hotel Abuja, the sunshine state First Lady expressed concern on Nigerians’ poor giving attitude when it comes to patient support, which according to her is a major force needed to beat cancer, which comes with a lot of financial burden.

She said most women die of cancer because of the delay in raising fund for treatment, which gives room for the cancer cell to multiply as the disease progresses with time.

The Ondo State First Lady used the occasion to call on Nigerians to pay attention to the message of early detection which saves lives by adhering to the periodic breast self examination, letting go of the misconception that breast cancer is a spiritual attack, and see it as a pure medical issue by presenting it to a medical doctor, and not going to a prayer mountain.

She pledged not to relent in her fight against breast cancer as a life-threatening disease, under her twenty years old NGO, BRECAN, through public education,  advocacy, patient support, and research.

An award of “Legend of Cancer Control in Nigeria” was bestowed on Mrs Akeredolu and 17 others in recognition of their relentless fight against cancer in Nigeria.

In his welcome address, the founder and Excutive Director of Project Pink Blue, Runcie Chidebe said their “Show Love” fund-raising program was born out of their passion to make a little difference in the society, adding that government alone cannot do it all.

Project Pink Blue registered as Health and Psychological trust center is a cancer nonprofit, engaged in raising cancer awareness, patient navigation, advocacy and free breast and cervical cancer screening for women living in poverty.

Highlights of the event were fund raising to support people living with cancer to get timely treatment, cancer awareness, and special presentations by guest artists and comedians.

The well attended event had the Executive Governor of Kebbi State, His Excellency,  Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, and his wife, Dr. Zainab Bagudu, First Lady of Niger State, Her Excellency, Dr Amina Bello and her Kaduna State counterpart, Hajiya Hadiza El-Rufai in attendance.

Others were the representative of the US ambassador, senators, Managing Director of African Independent Television and other captains of industry, celebrities, cancer survivors, cancer advocates and a host of others.