The Managing Director of The Bridge Clinic, Lagos, Dr. Richardson Ajayi, has called on foreign investors to choose Nigeria as their destination for health investments.
Ajayi made this call at the 4th Annual Africa Hospital Expansion Summit in Accra, Ghana.
The IVF specialist in his address noted that Nigeria’s health care sector had shown significant growth over the last five years and will continue to grow despite the current economic challenges.
He identified the increasing prevalence of non-communicable diseases, reduction in out-bound medical tourism due to the difficulties with obtaining foreign exchange and the increasing access to health insurance as key drivers for investing in Nigeria.
Ajayi, however , stated that short-term investment model may not work as much in Nigeria as the country’s health sector lacks the requisite systems to support it.
Ajayi, said, “Investors expect a return for their investments and most prefer the return sooner rather than later. Unfortunately, healthcare in our region is not mature enough for this type of investment strategy. Healthcare in our region is still in a nascent stage and the systems such as supporting government policies as well as the required organised ecosystem are not yet in place to create the platform for growth.”
He, therefore called for a different approach that would ensure that investments make the required developmental impact while, at the same time, delivering adequate financial returns.
Ajayi stated, “Health care investments have to be considered from a developmental and long-term perspective. Investments with a focus on immediate earnings such as earnings before interests, tax, depreciation and amortization may institute a profit-driven culture which runs in the face of providing care and the right balance must be struck.
“A more favourable structure will be for investors to look into making equity investments with a focus on long-term growth rather than a quick exit.”
He listed preferences for the sole proprietor model; patients dwindling disposable income, poor customer service orientation, and inadequate skill sets among health workers as some of the challenges that could hinder investments in the sector.
The World Mental Health Day, celebrated on October 10 every year, is an event that seeks to raise awareness of mental health issues across the globe and to mobilise efforts in support of mental health. This is crucial because mental health problems are important issues worldwide due to their impact on the fundamental human rights and the quality of life of those affected and their families.
The theme for this year’s event is ‘Psychological First-Aid: First Line Psychological Support’. It was developed in a collaborative effort between the World Health Organisation and NGOs endorsed by 24 United Nations and other international agencies.
According to a WHO document, the term PFA was first coined in the 1940s, but its use has increased in modern day crisis event. Just like everyone grew up with the idea of the first aid for persons with injuries or in cases of emergencies, PFA is the first-line psychosocial support for people affected by crisis events. It is now a crucial aspect of psychiatry as more people are bedeviled by different kinds of disasters and crisis.
Let’s not forget that Nigeria and its people have had their unfair share of crisis due to the Boko Haram insurgency and activities of other militants, disease outbreaks, armed robbery, train/ car accident, rape and other forms of physical assault.
This crisis events could be large scale or individualistic. No doubt, these events usually have physical, social and emotional consequences on their victims, especially when they are not detected and addressed early.
Mental health practitioners are very few in this part of the world and they cannot meet up with the number of patients who develop sudden psychological problems.
For every 100,000 Nigerians, there is only one psychiatrist. The same goes for the ratio of psychiatric nurses and psychologists that are needed, considering the enormous mental health burden on the country.
This psychological first-aid is very beneficial and crucial because victims do better over the long term if they feel safe, connected to others, calm and hopeful.
So the concept of psychological first-aid is most relevant for a country like Nigeria, where there are factors that tip individuals into crisis for which they need support each day.
PFA is not what professionals can do; it is not a clinical or psychiatric intervention (although it can be a part of good clinical care). It is not asking people to analyse what happened nor putting pressure on other people to tell their stories or asking details about how they feel and what happened.
PFA is essentially a humane, supportive and practical assistance to fellow human beings who recently suffered a serious mishap. This support should be practical and supportive in a way that assesses needs and concerns. It must help people access basic needs, such as food and water.
A crucial part of it is listening, but not pressing people to talk as it helps them connect to information, services and social support that exist in that particular community.
Usually folks that are involved in PFA are often relatives, neighbours, teachers, community members, religious group members and first responders of various kinds, such as emergency medical teams, police and fire fighters and vigilante groups.
This support can be given anywhere that is safe for the helper and the affected person, ideally with some privacy as appropriate to the situation.
As fantastic as this initiative can be for victims of sudden crisis, volunteers are encouraged to know their limits and give prompt referral to relevant professionals like psychiatrists and psychologists. The culture, safety, dignity and the right of the victim must not be violated in the guise of offering support.
This is where the peculiarity of the African situation comes in, where certain individuals in the family or community can actually take over support without the consent and respect of the victims.
This year’s theme is innovative and everyone is recruited as a stakeholder. This approach has been adopted by many humanitarian agencies and, according to the WHO, the PFA guide and facilitation manual has been made available in about 20 translations in a way that provides learning activities relevant to different cultures and countries around the world.
Our state governments can organise such training for officers that deal with crisis intervention and corporate organisations, too. Clubs and other philanthropic organisations can also buy into this initiative by providing this training and empowerment to help victims of sudden and devastating mishaps get support.
Dakar — “Civilians are not receiving aid, and find themselves trapped between Boko Haram and the military’s operations”
Living conditions for people uprooted by Boko Haram violence and seeking refuge in camps and towns across northeast Nigeria are more deadly than the conflict between the Islamist militants and the army, Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) said on Wednesday.
Hunger and malnutrition is widespread among the displaced in Borno State, not just in remote, previously inaccessible areas, but also in the capital Maiduguri, the medical aid group said.
Coordination of relief efforts must be drastically improved and food aid urgently delivered to people in need across Borno, where the humanitarian situation is reaching “catastrophic levels”, said MSF emergency programme manager Natalie Roberts.
“It is shocking to see so many people malnourished in Maiduguri, not just in isolated and hard-to-reach areas,” Roberts told the Thomson Reuters Foundation by phone.
“Aid actors have access, and there has been no Boko Haram presence for the last few years, but people are starving to death inside Maiduguri. Millions are in a nutrition crisis.”
MSF said it had recently gained access to Ngala and Gambaru, towns previously cut off from aid, where tens of thousands of people have little or nothing to eat and at least one in 10 children are suffering from life-threatening malnutrition.
Yet the medical charity said it was most concerned about the situation in Maiduguri, where malnutrition rates in some parts of the city are as high as those seen in conflict-hit areas.
Boko Haram violence has left more than 65,000 people living in famine in the northeast, with one million others at risk, and more than half of children under five are malnourished in some areas of Borno, several aid groups said last week.
Many women in aid camps in the northeast are resorting to selling sex in exchange for food and money with which to feed their families, medical charity International Medical Corps and Nigerian research group NOI Polls said this week.
Roberts said the aid response across Borno was insufficient and uncoordinated, leaving many people without any assistance.
“Civilians are not receiving aid, and find themselves trapped between Boko Haram and the military’s operations.”
The Islamist militant group has killed about 15,000 people and displaced more than 2 million in Nigeria in a seven-year insurgency aimed at creating a state adhering to Islamic laws.
A military offensive has driven Boko Haram from much of the territory it held in northern Nigeria, but the militants have continued to carry out suicide bombings and raids in northeast Nigeria and neighbouring Cameroon, Niger and Chad.
Malaria in pregnancy should be considered a medical emergency as it does more harm to the fetus than envisaged, the Head, Case Management Branch, National Malaria Elimination Programme, Dr. Godson Ntadom has said.
He noted that while malaria parasites in non pregnant persons feed on nutrients from the red blood cell of its host, that of pregnant women prefers to stay in the placenta where it feeds on the nutrients meant to supply the fetus because of its richness, thereby starving the fetus to death.
Speaking during the NMEP, Health Communication Capacity Collaboration and Health Editors interactive section in Lagos recently, he said, “during the period the parasites are feeding on the nutrients coming into the placenta meant for the fetus, the woman will not feel the signs of malaria because technically the placenta is not part of her body. It is when the parasites are full and satisfied that they now move into the woman’s blood stream, and at which point, she will start noticing malaria symptoms.”
Ntadom said it was a medical emergency because the point the woman starts noticing malaria signs means the parasites have starved the fetus of its needed developmental nutrients and are satisfied with the placenta.
“By this time they will then move to the woman’s blood where she will start filling the symptoms of the disease. There is a high possibility that at this point the damage may have been done to the fetus. That is why it is a medical emergency to see if the situation can be remedied,” he added.
He said contrary to popular belief that anti-malaria drugs were not good for treating malaria in pregnancy, the medical expert said it was the parasites that kill the fetus and not the drugs.
“Often times, pregnant women start treating malaria when they start noticing malaria signs, but what most people don’t know is that before a pregnant woman start noticing the symptoms, the parasites must have done damage to the fetus through feeding on the placenta. It is when the parasite is done with the placenta (probably damaged the fetus) that the woman can start noticing signs,” Ntadom said.
Meanwhile, Ntadom has reiterated Federal Government’s earlier decision to ban the use of Chloroquine and mono-therapy drugs for the treatment of malaria in Nigeria.
He said the emphasis on the ban on Chloroquine and mono-therapy drugs were necessary as some persons still sell them to unsuspecting patients.
“Apart from mono-therapy injections which are used for treatment of severe malaria, its drugs and Chloroquine have long been banned by government. It is a criminal offense for any health personnel to sell them to patients,” he added.
In the same vein, he said Nigerians do not need medicines for the prevention of malaria, adding that only pregnant women and foreigners should be given such recommendations.
“The one presently recommended now is Malarone which is a combination of two medicines and it is for foreigners who probably would be staying in the country for a short time.
He said the citizens were free to visit NMEP website www.ncmp.gov.ng for informations on malaria in Nigeria.
While many of us set long-term goals in regards to our health and fitness, there are many things you can do right now to boost your health each day. To improve your wellbeing and start feeling better, check out these 10 healthy changes to make to your day.
Plan to be healthy
Like most things worth having, a healthy lifestyle sadly won’t fall into your lap without any effort. To make healthy lifestyle choices a regular part of your day it is important to make a plan and schedule them in, at least until they become second nature. Rather than making vague plans to “eat more healthily” or “do some exercise”, make a menu for the day ahead detailing exactly what you will eat, or schedule in a date for exercise, establishing an exact time, activity and location. Whatever your health intentions, set your purpose for the day ahead and factor in some time to make it happen.
Ditch your alarm clock
Few of us would class the alarm clock as our favourite household appliance. However, if you find yourself waking up feeling sluggish and miserable and repeatedly pressing snooze, it may be worth investing in a gentler wake-up call. Ideally, our bodies our wired to wake up to natural light; however it is not always possible to do so. Instead, try purchasing a wake-up light which will wake you up gently as it gradually brightens, helping to regulate sleeping patterns and boost your mood and energy levels for the rest of the day.
Don’t overdo your morning workout
While a daily workout is great for your health, research suggests that it may be best to leave your exercise session until later in the day. A study by a researcher from Brunel University, Middlesex, found that heavy training sessions early in the morning compromise the immune system and put athletes at increased risk of infection from bacteria and viruses. While a morning jog or gentle exercise session is unlikely to put you at great risk, try to save heavier workouts for later in the day.
Start your day on a positive note
Many of us start the day with a morning newspaper or by listening to the news. However, while it’s good to stay informed of what is happening in the world, it can also start the day off on a negative note. If you find yourself struggling to get in a positive frame of mind, try following your morning news update with some motivational reading, an inspirational quote or an email from a friend. Not only will starting your day with a more positive outlook help to boost your mood and productivity, but studies have shown that positive people are less likely to die of heart disease or stroke.
Don’t eat at your desk
Having a busy day? Try not to give in to the temptation to skip your lunch break and eat at your desk. Refusing to take a break is not only bad for your mental health, but eating while distracted may mean you are more likely to overeat. On top of this, spending your lunch hour at your desk can compromise your health by lengthening the time you are physically inactive and exposing you to bacteria. According to a study by the University of Arizona, your work station contains nearly 400 times more germs than the average toilet seat, making it a less than ideal place for dining.
Get more active, more often
According to a number of research studies, sitting for long periods of time puts you at risk of dangerous illnesses such as heart disease – regardless of whether you are otherwise physically active. To safeguard your health while in the office, make an effort to move more often throughout the day in any way you can. Set up an alert or write a post-it note reminding you to get up and stretch, take more trips to the water cooler, or organise your workspace so that things are out of reach. Even the smallest activities done regularly can make a difference to your health.
Listen to music
Whether you’re travelling to work, sat at your desk or having a workout, listening to your favourite music could do wonders for your health. Not only can playing music help you relax and boost your mood, research has also shown that listening to music you enjoy can promote good heart health, help manage pain and boost the immune system too. Furthermore, research by Brunel University found that listening to music while working out can boost exercise endurance by as much as 15 per cent.
Watch some comedy
While in an ideal world we would all opt to shun the TV in favour of going for a run or doing something productive, if you simply can’t resist the lure of an evening in front of the box, you can still look after your health by being selective about what you watch. According to research by the University of Maryland School of Medicine, comedies are the way to go, with research findings suggesting that watching a funny movie or show is beneficial for your heart, while watching horror or war movies can cause mental stress.
Stop mindless snacking
Many people find themselves snacking during the day or evening out of boredom or habit. However, not only is this an easy way to pile on the pounds, but often we may not even enjoy what we’re eating. According to researchers from the University of Southern California, once people have established an eating habit they will continue eating that food whether or not it tastes good and regardless of whether they are hungry. To help stay trim, try being more aware of your eating habits and ask yourself why you are eating; whether it’s through hunger, boredom or simply out of habit.
Keep a diary
If you can’t remember the last time you poured out your heart into the pages of a diary, it may be time to get back into the habit. Research has shown that regularly writing in a diary can boost the immune system, ease stress and depression and help you recover more successfully from traumatic events. Furthermore, reflecting on the good things in your life can help you to think more positively. Try to take a few minutes at the end of each evening to reflect on your day, taking time to count your blessings as well as reflecting on the things from which you can learn.
Having neither too high nor too low levels of sodium [salt] is optimal for health
– A controversial new study contends that a low-salt diet could be dangerous for your heart health.
Restricting dietary salt to below 3,000 milligrams a day appears to increase the risk for heart disease similar to that of high blood pressure patients who eat too much salt, said lead researcher Andrew Mente.
“Having neither too high nor too low levels of sodium [salt] is optimal for health,” said Mente, an associate professor of clinical epidemiology and biostatistics at McMaster University, in Ontario, Canada.
The American Heart Association is highly critical of Mente’s study. The AHA says the study relies on incorrect estimates of sodium intake, and should not lead anyone to relax concerns over excess salt in the average U.S. diet.
“This is an extremely flawed analysis that doesn’t provide new information, and it should not be used to guide public policy,” said Dr. Elliott Antman, immediate past president of the AHA and an associate dean for clinical and translational research at Harvard Medical School.
“The American Heart Association continues to recommend less than 1,500 milligrams of sodium per day from all sources,” he said.
Most Americans consume about 3,400 milligrams of sodium a day, more than twice the recommended amount, according to the heart association.
Mente said, based on his analysis, only people with high blood pressure need to worry about reducing salt intake.
He said his study results showed that a low-salt diet increases the risk of heart attack or stroke 26 percent for people without high blood pressure and 34 percent for people with high blood pressure.
For those with high blood pressure, too much dietary salt increases their risk 23 percent, the study said.
On the other hand, a diet with excess salt doesn’t increase the risk at all if blood pressure is normal, the study reported.
“Most of the population eats what they’re supposed to eat, based on the data,” Mente said. “They fall in the middle and that’s actually the sweet spot — the safest range of intake.”
Excess salt increases blood pressure in some people by causing the body to retain water, putting extra strain on the heart, the heart association says.
Mente said a low-salt diet can activate the body’s renin-angiotensin system. This is a hormone process that regulates blood pressure and fluid balance.
“If you attempt to reduce your blood pressure by lowering your sodium, you’re lowering your blood pressure but you’re activating your renin-angiontensin system,” Mente said.
For their analysis, Mente and his colleagues pooled results of four studies that measured salt intake and tracked heart health. Together, the studies involved more than 133,000 people from 49 countries.
Each study used a single, morning urine sample from each person to estimate their regular daily salt intake for extended periods of time, an approach the AHA’s Antman called “deficient.”
People with less than 3,000 milligrams of sodium in their urine were assigned to the low-sodium group, while 7,000 or more milligrams of urinary sodium was considered high-sodium.
Antman said, “They (the study authors) make the assumption that a measurement of urine sodium in a spot fashion like this, at one moment in time, can reliably inform us about what the sodium intake was during the course of the study.”
Antman is concerned that news reports of this study will lead people to make diet choices that could prove disastrous to their heart health.
“Unless we point out the deficiencies with this analysis, there could be a major public health problem,” he said.
The study results were published May 20 in The Lancet.
Sharon Zarabi, a registered dietitian at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City, said salt has been a part of the human diet for millennia. But, the advent of processed foods has led to its use in larger doses for flavor and as a preservative, she said.
“We treat patients with hypertension [high blood pressure] with the DASH dietary approach, a diet which includes a variety of fruits and vegetables and limits added salt,” Zarabi said. “As most dietary research studies claim ‘everything in moderation,’ try to avoid condiments and processed foods that have more salt than you might expect, such as salad dressings, mustard, cheese, sauces and even bread products.”
Dr. Howard Levite, director of cardiology for Staten Island University Hospital in New York City, said the idea that most people are consuming the right amount of salt is “controversial.” This new analysis does not disprove the need to watch salt intake as a means of warding off heart disease, he added.
“The article raises the possibility that once achieving middle age the current sodium guidelines for an individual may need to be liberalized. But, this in no way detracts from the prevention goals that are the raison d’etre of the established protocols,” Levite said.
SOURCES: Andrew Mente, Ph.D., associate professor, clinical epidemiology and biostatistics, McMaster University, Ontario, Canada; Elliott Antman, M.D., immediate past president, American Heart Association, and associate dean, clinical and translational research, Harvard Medical School, Boston; Sharon Zarabi, R.D., Lenox Hill Hospital, New York City; Howard Levite, M.D., director, cardiology, Staten Island University Hospital; May 20, 2016, The Lancet
The Mediterranean diet is noted for its ability to lower the risk of heart disease. With key components of the Mediterranean diet including generous amount of fish, fruits and vegetables, healthy fats such as olive oil, very little red meat, and red wine, it’s no surprise that the diet of the majority of those in the Mediterranean is considered a good diet example to follow.
If you take a look at national statics which show that Italy has some of the lowest rates of obesity (25th/29) and heart disease (21st/26) in Europe, it’s clear that their diet is a good example to follow. They are renowned for their health-conscious way of life; but can this be put down solely to the type of low-fat margarine they spread on their morning Ciabatta?
In answer to this, let’s take a look at a typical Mediterranean diet:
High consumption of fruits, vegetables, bread and other cereals, potatoes, beans, nuts and seeds.
Olive oil is an important monounsaturated fat source.
Dairy products, fish and poultry are consumed in low to moderate amounts, and little red meat is eaten.
Wine is consumed in low to moderate amounts.
It seems that ‘balance’ is the buzzword in the Mediterranean these days — a healthy mix of fruit and veg, dairy and fiber-based foods keep them in good health.
While country and culture will ultimately dictate diet, fish generally features heavily on the menu with tuna and swordfish remaining a particularly popular staple in the regions surrounding the Mediterranean Sea. And fish is a great source of omega-3 fatty acids which improve the health of blood vessels.
Wine, where drunk in moderation, is also a contributing factor to the health of those in the Mediterranean. Light intake of alcohol has been associated with a reduced risk of heart. Red wine in particular is considered most effective in providing positive health benefits.
The Mediterranean diet and you
With obesity levels rising, it might not be a bad idea if a few more people were to adopt the Mediterranean way of life. Having said that though, it’s pretty likely the sun plays a fairly large part in the lack of comfort eating in the Med.
Much of the fruit and vegetables eaten in Mediterranean are grown locally, and as such benefit from the extended hours of warmth and sunlight, and aren’t genetically modified so as to look like one of those monster vegetables they used to have competitions.
You can easily adopt a more Mediterranean-like diet without radical change. Introduce more fresh fruits and vegetables, limit the amount of red meat in your diet, and replace it with fish. Where possible use healthy fats such as olive oil when cooking, and then reward yourself with a glass of red wine!
From time to time, we don’t feel well. Sometimes the cause is obvious: It could be that we have caught a cold or the flu. The occasional ache or pain, a sore throat or a general sense of tiredness is normal and unavoidable. It’s a part of life.
But there are times – and signs – when your body tells you that now is the moment to pay attention, that something is seriously wrong and you need to see a doctor immediately.
Don’t be like 30-year-old Tola Olusanya, who thought nothing of his inability to ease his bowels regularly. The young handyman consoled himself that it was nature’s own way of sparing him the agony of visiting the filthy toilet that he shared with co-tenants.
Five years down the lane, Olusanya was diagnosed with end-stage cancer of the colon and the doctors described his case as a hopeless one.
However, the same doctors noted that if he had presented the case earlier at the hospital, his physician could have remedied the situation with a simple change in diet or, in a worst case scenario, a 15- minute colonoscopy surgery.
Many people on the streets look physically fit, but they are dying medically without realising it. It is frightening that such people are waiting to fall sick before they take matters that concern their health seriously.
Consultant family physician, Dr. Femi Omolola, says even when people see deadly symptoms, such as urine in their blood, they still wish it away.
Omolola argues that, in spite of what others say, every disease or ailment has a sign and the symptoms are the ways in which the body tries to alert you to deeper health challenges, which may manifest in future if nothing is done.
The physician says the difference between those who die or survive these diseases is action.
Omolola explains, “The body is like a magnificent machine. When things go awry, it generally doesn’t just shut down without warning. It is like an electric bulb, which becomes dim before it finally goes dark. The body sends us little signals and we must think of them as gentle biological taps on the shoulder that warn us that something is amiss.
“People must know that no death from a sickness is sudden. It started with a constant headache or fever. Ask any patient, they must have been a constant bleeding or pain. If we truly investigate any cause of sudden death, we will know that it started with a disease that was left untreated.”
If we want to live up to and beyond our prime, we must learn to decipher the body’s many codes. We should not just pop a pain reliever into our mouths and expect a constant headache to go away.
Believe it or not, most physical signs suggest that a health challenge is lurking in the dark. Don’t dismiss them. These symptoms may turn out to be nothing serious, but you won’t know that for sure without seeing a physician.
They may signal a serious disease or a looming threat to life. Below are symptoms that should not be ignored. They are red flags to seek medical attention as soon as possible.
Chest pain might be heart failure
Don’t ignore the chest pain that suddenly hits you while at rest or during walking or exercising.
The sensation of squeezing, crushing or pressure on the chest could indicate many things – from “harmless” stress and indigestion to something as serious as an impending heart attack or angina. Angina is recurring chest pain that usually signals coronary artery disease.
Please seek emergency assistance if the chest pain lasts more than 15-20 minutes at rest or if it is accompanied by nausea, sweating, shortness of breath or loss of consciousness.
Unexplained weight loss could be diabetes
Losing weight without trying may sound like a dream come true. In reality, it can signal a health problem. If you’re not obese and you’ve lost more than 10 per cent of your body weight during the past six months, please consult your doctor.
An unexplained drop in weight could be caused by various conditions — including overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism), diabetes, depression, liver disease, cancer or disorders that interfere with how your body absorbs nutrients (malabsorption disorders).
Persistent fever could be cancer
A fever isn’t necessarily a cause for alarm. Fever seems to play a key role in fighting infection. Persistent fever can signal a hidden infection, which could be anything from a urinary tract infection to tuberculosis. In some cases, cancerous (malignant) conditions — such as lymphoma — cause prolonged or persistent fevers.
Call your doctor if your temperature is 103 F (39.4 C) or higher and if you’ve had a fever for more than three days.
Shortness of breath could be pneumonia
Shortness of breath could signal an underlying health problem. Very strenuous exercise, extreme temperatures, massive obesity and high altitude can cause shortness of breath. Beyond these examples, shortness of breath is likely to be a sign of a medical problem. If you have unexplained shortness of breath, especially if it is severe and comes on suddenly, seek emergency medical care.
Causes for breathlessness might include asthma, pneumonia, a blood clot in the lung, as well as other heart and lung problems.
Wife of the Governor of Ogun State, Mrs. Olufunso Amosun has assured women diagnosed with breast and cervical cancer of the state’s support, saying the government would sponsor their treatment with the aim of reducing mortality rate in the state.
The governor’s wife disclosed this during the 2015 Free Breast and Cervical Cancer Awareness and Screening Exercise she organised in collaboration with the Medical Women Association (MWAN) Ogun State Chapter at Moshood Abiola Polytechnic in Abeokuta.
She encouraged women to embrace regular breast and cervical screening to prevent the scourge of the disease.
Mrs. Amosun stressed the need for massive sensitisation campaign against breast and cervical cancer. She said that hundreds of women die daily of breast and cervical cancer across the world, adding that the state government was committed to the well-being of its citizenry, particularly women and the girl-child who are more vulnerable to the disease.
She said the aim of the screening exercise was to increase early detection in order to prevent the prevalence of cancer among women, explaining that her Uplift Development Foundation would continue to partner stakeholders to improve the health of women in the state.
In her remarks the President Medical Women Association, Ogun State Chapter, Dr. Bunmi Fatugase advised the students and women to avail themselves of the opportunity of the free cancer screening and surgery put together by the state government and the wife of the governor.
She noted that women were always engaged in the care of their husbands and children thus neglecting their own health, encouraging participants to give more attention of their health in order to stay healthy.
In a bid to reduce incidence rate of breast cancer in the country, health experts, stakeholders and cancer survivors have reinstated that self examination is key to preventing the scourge, while early detection and prompt treatment is key to surviving breast cancer.
They stated this at a 10 Kilometres walk to mark Care Organisation Public Enlightenment’s (COPE), 20th anniversary and this year’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month in Lagos.
Addressing hundreds of participants at the well attended walk which kicked off as early as 7:00amSaturday 10th October, from the Arch Bishop Vining Church, GRA , Ikeja, to Maryland and back to Arch Bishop Vining Church, the Chief Executive Officer, COPE, Mrs Ebunola Anozie, lamented the attitude of late presentation and lack of comprehensive cancer centre as major factors affecting survival rates in the country.
Anozie said the aim of the walk was solely to raise awareness about breast cancer as part of efforts to reduce its mortality rate in the country, adding that the disease was curable if presentation is made at the early stage.
Lamenting treatment challenges faced by cancer patients in the country, Anozie appealed to the Federal Government to build a comprehensive cancer centre to aid treatment of patients, stating that this would reduce brain drain as well as stop the mad rush to other countries for treatment.
Also lending his voice, representative of Chapel of Healing Cross, Idi Araba, Dr. Wale Ogundetoun lamented that a lot of people were coming down with cancer contrary to the earlier belief that the disease occur only in people above 50s and 60 years.
He called for a special fund for Nigerians who cannot afford the needed resources for their medical treatment. “The government should improve our healthcare facilities. There are many who cannot afford treatment and they are lying down in the hospital without hope. With improved healthcare facilities and provision of special funds for those who cannot afford it, more people will survive and the burden will be reduced on families and patients as well as the society in general.”
Also speaking, a cancer survivor who is also the Vice President of COPE, Mrs. Kehinde Gbelee said that there have been a lot of improvement in awareness and treatment better than when she was diagnosed of cancer, adding that there was now chances of surviving cancer in Nigeria.
She encouraged patients to come out and get help before it becomes too late for them.
“To survive cancer, you must keep to your medicine and take your chemotherapy and radiotherapy as well as do all that the doctors advised because at the end of every dark tunnel there is always a bright light. “
Another survivor, Mrs. Funmi Olufumi layo Dada, called on the Federal Government to address the treatment problems in the country. According to her, the continued break down of radiotherapy machines across the country has further stretched the burden on the patients.
“Due to continuous breakdown of radio therapy machines, Patients travel from Lagos to Benin, sometimes from here to Abuja and Kaduna just to get radio therapy or some special medical investigations.
“There is need for government to provide investigative equipment. Treatment is very expensive, some of the treatment like chemotherapy cost as high as N10, million. They should liaise with pharmaceutical companies to bring down the prices of these drugs so that it can be affordable and people can live longer.
Speaking, representative of Skye Bank, Head Corporate Communication Function, Mr. Rasheed Bolarinwa, who said they have supported COPE in the last 10 years, added that the bank decided to adopt breast cancer as their a corporate responsibility due to the devastating effects it has on families psychologically and financially.
Bolarinwa noted that breast cancer was one of the cancers with the highest mortality rates globally, hence the need to support organisations like COPE who have good visions.
Commending COPE on their 20th Anniversary, he urged them to do ore in order to save more lives.
– A controversial new study contends that a low-salt diet could be dangerous for your heart health.
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