Date: 2014-07-20

TEN years ago, I lost my mother to cancer. It was 2004 and it still feels like yesterday. Then cancer survivors were few and it was a death sentence to have cancer.

Where did we not run to, what prayer did we not say, yet she died.

When I watched Omolewa Ahmed talk about her foundation’s fight against cancer, I felt ecstatic. I knew this was one woman who knew the pain I had felt.

She was an uncommon first lady tackling a major issue rather than pursuing frivolities.

Cancer is the second greatest cause of death in developed countries and it is among the three leading causes of death in developing countries.

It has also been noticed that the burden of cancer has been widely unknown principally as a result of lack of statistics or under-reporting.

Breast cancer is the most common type of female cancer and the second most common cancer in Nigerian women is the cervical cancer. It is the most common female genital cancer, constituting a major cause of mortality among women in their most productive years.

 In order to fight this illness and change the statistics, Mrs Omolewa Ahmed’s Leah Charity Foundation, an NGO based in Ilorin intensified its effort to reduce the incidence of breast and cervical cancers in women through a sensitization of women all over the state.

 She revealed during a press conference that massive awareness was going on .

In her words, “There are jingles on radio and T.V., we have also secured the collaboration if musical artistes in the state, who have recorded songs which will regular airplay as a way of alerting our people of the menace of cancer.”

Her resolute determination “gingered” me to follow the developments of the campaign.

Right now, 10 out of the 16 local government areas in the state have been toured by the Foundation .

The first lady is always present and she leads volunteers to markets and places where women can be reached.

It is explained that the disease should not be treated as a death sentence or some fate imposed wickedness. people are also encouraged to be each other’s keeper in the renewed fight against cancer.

 The Foundation also distributes information and educational materials in order to sensitize the people of the state on the importance accepting voluntary screening and prevent factors like alcohol, smoking and lack of exercise that make more one more susceptible to cancer.

Among the efforts of the Foundation is the establishment of three screening centers so that access will be made easier for the women.

They are situated at Adewole Cottage Hospital, Children Specialist Hospital and Sobi Specialist Hospital.

An ultra modern facility which provides full blown medical services, ranging from counseling to screening and treatment for women from Kwara and beyond has been put in place.

 With the ultra-modern facility, a highly subsidized fee of N200 only is charged for the screening of both breast and cervical cancer.

The first lady asserted that the sum was fixed to take care of the disposables used for the screening. Mother Theresa once said “One of the greatest diseases is to be nobody to anybody.

“Omolewa Ahmed is a mother to Kwarans, leaving her place to wipe away tears.

Although, my mother is gone, I am sure other women would have a chance at fighting the disease.