Wife of the Ebonyi State governor Uzoamaka Nwifuru has described as a societal problem, breast and cervical cancer and called on stakeholders in the state to create more awareness and educate the rural populace on the risk factors of the disease.
Nwifuru expressed confidence that with more awareness and education, the dangers associated with the disease will reduce the scourge in the society.
The governor’s wife, who made the call while flagging off the campaign against breast/cervical cancer with the theme “Living Beyond Cancer” at the Women Development Centre (WDC), Abakaliki called on women to engage in regular medical checkups.
“Awareness creation is a crucial step in combating breast and cervical cancer as early detection significantly increases the chances of successful treatment and survival.
“The disease is now a societal problem that needs everyone’s attention and I call on stakeholders in the state to create awareness and educate the rural populace on the risk factors of the disease and how to reduce the scourge in the society.
“Breast cancer is a silent enemy that affects women across all ages and social backgrounds. We must take proactive steps to protect ourselves and our loved ones.
“Regular checkups should not be seen as an option but as a duty to ourselves and our families. By doing so, we can detect any abnormalities early on and increase the chances of successful treatment,” Mrs Nwifuru stated.
In their remarks, the former commissioner for health in the state, Dr Daniel Umezurike, and his successor, Dr Moses Ekuma educated the women on the three levels of cancer prevention which includes, the primary, secondary and tertiary levels and urged women to visit the 171 primary health centres for medical checks.
