BRECAN Parleys Ondo Health Sector On Effective Cancer Control
The wife of the Ondo State Governor, Mrs. Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu has called for collaborations among key players in the heath sector towards ensuring effective cancer control in the state.
Speaking at the BRECAN lunch meeting with all health professionals in the state at an event which took place at the Multipurpose Hall of the Federal University of Technology, Akure, Mrs. Akeredolu reviewed some of the activities of BRECAN over the years noting that the focus has always been on early detection and as well encouraging government to improve its policies and funding for cancer control.
Mrs. Akeredolu who called for the commitment of all parties concerned noted that BRECAN is a non governmental organization funded by individuals.
She also highlighted the goals of crowd funding campaigns while urging major players in the health sector to key into the initiative so as to keep up the advocacy in all nooks and crannies of the society at large.
In his presentation, Dr. Kingsley Ndoh, a Clinical Assistant Professor, University of Washington and Consultant, Ondo State Cancer Control Programme gave an overview of the successes so far recorded to include getting the support and delivery of equipments from foreign partners among other things.
He further observed that plans are underway to organise pathology workshops, just as Mrs. Akeredolu is expected to deliver a lecture at the Harvard University soonest as part of efforts geared towards attracting global attention.
While noting that the strides of Mrs. Akeredolu got the commitment of the state government to build a cancer treatment centre in Ondo State, Dr. Ndoh further affirmed that appropriate legislative backing was appealed for from the state house of assembly towards ensuring that cancer is no longer a death sentence.
In his remark, the Honourable Commissioner for Health in the State, Dr. Wahab Adegbenro while pledging to incorporate training of health workers on self breast examination into the system, affirmed government’s commitment to managing cancer in the state.
Dr. Adegbenro who urged residents of the state to key into the health insurance scheme of the present administration noted that under the plan, there is unlimited access to funds for treatment of any diseases
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In her presentation, Dr. Teniola Akeredolu provided an overview of the conference attended in Lusaka, Zambia while stressing the need for collaboration between key stakeholders in the health sector.
Earlier in lecture, Dr. Ndidi Okunuga noted that from available statistics from Akure, the Ondo State capital, there is an average of 80 cancer cases per year.
According to her, there was a need for a comprehensive cancer control which would encompass having more Pathologists on ground to attend to patients, more scientists to conduct researches and as well the establishment of standard diagnostic labs among others.
Ondo State BRECAN state chairman, Dr. Toyin Ayimoro while delivering her lecture on Building Partnership with Community Gatekeepers in Cancer Awareness and Advocacy called for all hands to be on deck as the incidence of cancer has been on the rise.
Dr. Ayimoro who frowned at the fact that there are no adequate resources on ground to treat cancer patients underscored the need to strengthen partnership among all.
High point of the event came with the verbal commitment of key stakeholders to continue to support the cause.
