Group Advocates Gender Equality In Agriculture For Enhanced Food Security

The National Gender Steering Committee on the implementation of the National Gender Policy in Agriculture in collaboration with the Association of Women In Trade and Agriculture (AWITA) and Partnership for Advancing Women in Economic Development (PAWED)
has called for a bridge in gender disparity for enhanced food security in the country.

The group made the call during a courtesy visit to the Head of the Civil Service of the federation, in Abuja.

Speaking during the visit, the head, gender and secretary, National Gender Steering Committee, Mrs Ifeoma Ayanwu, noted that there is huge gender disparity in agriculture in the country, especially with…
[13:59, 05/09/2022] Patience LeadReporter: Prostrate Cancer: Medicaid Advocates For National Screening Programme, Early Detection

BY PATIENCE IVIE IHEJIRIKA, Abuja

Wife of the Kebbi State Governor and founder of Medicaid Cancer Foundation, Dr Zainab-Shinkafi Bagudu, has called for a national screening programme for prostrate cancer.

The first lady made the call at the collaborative launch of prostrate cancer screening and treatment programme tagged “Project Icon”, by Medicaid Cancer Foundation in collaboration with AstraZeneca, in Abuja.

She said the aim of the programme is to raise awareness, encourage early diagnosis and educate men about their health.

Quoting statistics, Bagudu said out of 100,000 men screened of prostrate cancer, 38,000 are diagnosed with the disease with about half of them eventually dying of the disease.

She also stated that the project is a start of a wider project, ,’the Cancer Care Africa’, with intention to pilot it with 800 persons in Abuja and 400 persons in Kebbi State, making a total of 1200 persons from both states.

She said the project hopes to reduce the treatment cost for those diagnosed with the disease, through partnership with AstraZeneca.

Speaking on the role of government and policy makers, the first lady said ” We are calling for a national screening programme where once you’re at a certain age, you are called in to screen at the primary health care level for the cancer that are common to your sex, age and region.

“We also want the government to institute better treatment facilities and collaboration with private sector for improved heath financing.

“Health and cancer has to be a priority,” she added.

On his part, the country director, Sub-saharan Africa for AstraZeneca, Mr Arpit Bansal, said a major problem in addressing prostrate cancer is late diagnosis.

“If we would want to improve men’s health and prostrate cancer, the best step is early diagnosis and detection.

He, however, stated that AstraZeneca’s commitment was not to only offer medications but to also help patients in the early stage.