“CANCER KILLS MORE THAN HIV, MALARIA &
TUBERCULOSIS, EARLY DETECTION & TIMELY TREATMENT SAVE LIVES:
Breast Cancer Awareeness Month,Scientific update has it that “Cancer” is one of the leading
causes of death globally. A cancer scenario in Nigeria reveals that about 500,000
new cases are diagnosed every year and that it kills over 250,000 people
annually in Nigeria. It is further said that Cancer kills more people than
HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria (ATM) combined (WHO 2006a, 2006b). However, medical
experts have continuously advocates; for early detection, regular awareness, timely
screening, vaccination and treatment as major interventions against the
disease.
The “Civil Society for CANCER Eradication in Nigeria
(CiSCANEN)” and other key stakeholders in the response to cancer in the state
hereby urge everyone to join this campaign to commit to strengthened
activities for quality, including screening, early detection, treatment and
palliative care.
The primary goal of International Breast Cancer Awareness
Month is to significantly reduce illness and death caused by
cancer and is an opportunity to rally the international community to end
the menace of preventable suffering from breast cancer.
Globally, there were an estimated 20 million new cases of
cancer and 10 million deaths from cancer. The cancer burden will
increase by approximately 60% over the next two decades, further straining
health systems, people and communities. The predicted global burden will
increase to about 30 million new cancer cases by 2040, with the greatest
increases occurring in low- and middle-income countries.
The good news , however, is that Breast Cancer can be
prevented and controlled by implementing evidence-based strategies for cancer
prevention, screening and early detection, treatment and palliative care. The
most common modifiable risk factors for cancer, which are shared with many
other non-communicable diseases, are Tobacco use, Low fruit and vegetable
intake, Harmful use of alcohol, Lack of physical activity, age or race, alcohol
use and obesity. Some preventive measures includes: exercise/physical activity
helps combat obesity and lower the risk of breast cancer, avoid sugary drinks
and limit consumption of energy-dense foods and processed foods Limit
consumption of red meats (such as beef, pork, and lamb) and avoid processed
meats,”
One-third to one-half
of Breast cancer cases could be prevented by reducing the prevalence of known
risk factors. Examples of actionable interventions are tobacco control and
lifestyles. The most effective primary prevention of Breast cancer is based on
whole-of-government approaches, with legislation, regulation and fiscal
policies combined with activities to change community and individual behaviour.
Public health messages and health promotion should present evidence on specific
risk factors.
Despite being a largely preventable and treatable disease,
Breast cancer is an important public health problem, affecting mostly young and
middle-aged young and socioeconomically deprived women in developing
countries.
To tackle this important determinant of gender and socioeconomic
inequalities, In March 2021, the World Health Organization introduced the
Global Breast Cancer Initiative, aiming to reduce the burden of breast cancer,
the most frequent cancer in women globally and in the Americas region.
The initiative aims to reduce global breast cancer mortality
by 2.5% per year, thus averting an estimated 2.5 million deaths by 2040. In
2020 there were nearly 500,000 new breast cancer cases and over 100,000 breast
cancer deaths in the Americas. If successful, nearly 480,000 breast cancer
deaths would be averted in the Americas region alone during the 20-year period.
Activities for the initiative will focus on three pillars: Health
promotion, Timely diagnosis, and Comprehensive treatment including supportive
care
The Civil Society for Cancer Eradication in Nigeria
(CiSCANEN), Plateau State chapter have been able to organise a day
capacity building workshop, with a total of 224 (122 Male, 102 Female) members on
basic facts of cancer and demand creation on cancer education and 480 (male-390
and female- 90) members of the National Association of Nigerian Traditional
Medicine Practitioners (NANTMP), Plateau State Chapter sharing experience on
the medical aspect of cancer treatment and care.
A total of 24,123 (female= 15,264 and male 8,859) people
(market men & women, NANTMP members, students, workplaces and the general
public) in Plateau have been reached since 2016.
Breast screening and examination have been conducted in
secondary schools, tertiary institutions and workplaces in Plateau State
covering 1,034 women out of which 34 of them had lumps and nipple discharge
suspected to be cancer cases.
The event which was mostly supported in Plateau state by the
wife of the Plateau State Governor, Her Excellency, Mrs Regina S.B. Lalong
through Her SWITCH Foundation, her PET Project in 2017 and 2018 has suffered a
serious seek back this year as CiSCANEN was unable to lay its hands on any
support elsewhere. CiSCANEN is currently in urgent need of support to continue
to tackle the cancer problems on the Plateau and beyond.
I, therefore, write on behalf of (CiSCANEN), Plateau State
Chapter, to congratulate on the recent
achievements of the Executive Governor of our dear Plateau State and the
Chairman, Nigerian Northern Governor’s Forum (NGF). We are delighted to note
that this tenure has attracted so many Federal Government Health institutions
to Plateau State, which includes the approvals for the establishment orthopaedic
hospital, Jos, Federal Medical Centre, Wase and the University of Jos Cancer
Centre which stands out among your achievements as a dream come true to us at
CiSCANEN, Plateau State chapter. This is so because it has come to serve as a
boost to our activities in combating cancer on the Plateau. Our only humble
request is that you help us support the creation of the “Plateau State Cancer
Agency (PSCA)” as a necessary complement to the Cancer Centre as it will better
coordinate the activities of the Civil Society Organizations to work in
collaboration with the National Cancer Centre and to also the quest/bid for the
proposed November/December 2022 “Plateau State Cancer Trust Fund lunch” already
sent to his humble office
In conclusion, Every Action Counts as the International
Breast Cancer Awareness Month is a truly global event. In order to achieve the
objective of reaching as much of the world’s population as possible, your help
is needed, whether you do something as large as running your own International
Breast Cancer Awareness Month campaign, or as simple as sharing our template
messages amongst your media networks and organizations, every action has an
impact. Show the world that we can win the war on cancer. Get involved in the
fight against cancer.
We appreciate that everyone supporting the Day has different
needs and priorities, so there are a wide variety of ways to get involved and
to also take advantage of the numerous vegetables and fruits we have on the
Plateau: cabbage, carrots, fresh tomatoes, cucumber, green pepper, mangoes etc
which serves as diets for cancer patients. As we jointly participate in
fighting cancer, it is hoped that the disease will be reduced to the barest
minimum.
by Mr.Tokbish, Yohanna Mizak,
State Coordinator,
CiSCANEN, Plateau State-Nigeria.
08036788777, 08104390217
