Date: 2013-05-27

Kwara state women have been challenged to take advantage of the cancer screening programme initiated by wife of the Kwara State Governor, Mrs. Omolewa Ahmed, by presenting themselves for periodic medical check-ups at the various centres located in the state.
Making this call at the opening ceremony of the Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening Centres held at the weekend at the Children Specialist Hospital, Centre Igboro, Ilorin, the state capital, was Mrs. Ahmed who restated her commitment and that of the LEAH Charity Foundation to stop the occurrence of avoidable deaths among women.
Mrs. Ahmed speaking through her Special Adviser on Administration and Strategy, Mr. Lanre Bello, said "We are sure that deaths from cervical and breast cancer can be avoided if caught early; and the only way to catch any form of cancer or ailment is through regular voluntary screening after which medical treatment can be sought.
"Apart from the provision of the screening centres all over the state, we are also working toward the establishment of a comprehensive breast cancer screening centre that will offer our women specific and accurate examination which women from all over the state can have access to."
While imploring the state government, local government councils, corporate organisations as well as public-spirited individuals to support her efforts toward achieving the all important goal of making life safe and long for women, the governor's wife also promised to include breast and cervical cancer screening on the LEAH Clinic-on-Wheels programme.
She also encouraged every woman in the state to be each other's keeper, to work together to see that no woman dies of preventable death and to avoid stigmatizing those who may be either coming for screening or were discovered to have been affected by cancer.
In his remarks on the occasion, the Kwara State Commissioner for Health, Alhaji Kayode Abdul Issa, explained that the widespread use of screening programmes, particularly in developed countries has reduced invasive cervical cancer, adding that early detection forms the bedrock of any success that can be recorded in the fight against cancer.
While commending the initiative which he said fits into the health policy thrust of the state government of bringing qualitative health services to the doorsteps of Kwarans, the commissioner assured of his ministry's continued support and collaboration in terms of releasing state-owned hospitals to serve as centres for the screening exercises across the state.
Also speaking, the special guest, Justice Titi Daibu, described the initiative as apt and timely even as she harped on the imperatives of taking regular medical checks seriously, saying that many women who died from cancer diseases could have been saved if screening had been carried out in the early stages of the disease.
She therefore called on women to use the opportunity of the LEAH screening centres to safeguard their lives through early detection and prompt treatment of disease conditions.
Earlier in her welcome address, the Administrator of LEAH Charity Foundation, Mrs. Bukola Akinleye, said that the foundation in partnership with the office of wife of the governor and the Kwara State chapter of the Medical Women Association of Nigeria were prompted to create awareness about cancer diseases aimed at ensuring that women are well enlightened of the challenges that may occur in their bodies.
She also enjoined well meaning individuals to support the initiative by buying packs of the coupons at 200 naira per ticket to be distributed to women in their localities to enable them benefit from the service which has been heavily subsidized, adding that the bulk purchase of the coupons should not be seen as a business venture, rather it should be regarded as a responsible social service.