IN the bid to combat the menace of breast cancer in Nigeria and to give helping hand to cancer patients, wife of the Ondo state governor, Mrs Betty Akeredolu, on Wednesday launched a N200million appeal fund to take care of women suffering from the deadly disease in the state.
The wife of the governor who called for support of individuals and government across to ensure that women do not die needlessly because of breast cancer, saying that it is high time not to see breast cancer as a death sentence.
According to her, the appeal fund became imperative to save the lives of women suffering from the disease saying lack of financial support and ignorance contributed to the death of many patients suffering from breast cancer.
Mrs Akeredolu who is also the founder of Breast Cancer Association of Nigeria (BRECAN) said with the donations, more awareness would be raised while it will also help to raise the consciousness of the people in supporting the initiative, saying the time has come for everybody to play their part in the effort to add knowledge and eradicate the scourge of cancer.
She noted that if one million people could donate N200.00 towards the initiative, there would be more than enough to treat breast cancer patients in several hospitals in the state.
She said out of the 3.5 million people living in the state, Akeredolu said her organization has targeted at least one million people to donate at least N200.00 towards the treatment of cancer patients in the state, saying this will go a long way to put smiles on the faces of the cancer patients.
She said “we cannot afford to fold our arms and allow these people to die in silence. Everyone must key in into this initiative to help these cancer patients as it is our responsibility to help them and show them love.”
She said the treatment of cancer cost fortunes and need the financial support of family, friends and good citizens for the patient to survive it, noting that many patients suffering from the disease could survive it if fund could be raised by the citizens of the state.
“Many women are dying of breast cancer because of ignorance and lack of money. We should not fold our hands and allow women to die. We want to raise money for women who do not have money for cancer treatment”
The Chairperson of Okitipupa Local Government, Mrs Morenike Alaka, while speaking during the launch, said she had tabled the case of a 45 years old Kehinde Akingboye, who had been suffering from breast cancer in Okitipupa, in Okitipupa local government area of the state, for the past seven years but could not go to hospital because of funding to the wife of the governor.
She disclosed that succour had come the way of Akingboye as the BRECAN founder has taken over her case and offer to help the 45 year old women who had been hiding in her room for fear of losing her breast.
An Oncology Surgeon from Federal Medical Centre, Owo, Dr Katung Aba said breast cancer should not be seen as death if detected early, it will cause no damage to the patient
Aba suggested that government should strengthen the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) in order to take care of the patients suffering from breast cancer.