530,000 Women Test Positive for Cancer in Niger

By Laleye Dipo
No fewer than 530,000 women in Niger State have tested positive to different types of cancer in the last three years.

The International Centre for Reproductive Rights which disclosed this in Minna recently, said the figure was out of the over 29,170 women screened for the disease by various health organisations and voluntary agencies.

Mr. Dorothy Aken’ova Executive Director INCRESE in the state who made the figures known also said that not less than 119 other cases not ‘really confirmed’ have been sent to the Gwagwalada Specialist Hospital and the Federal Medical Centre Bida for further examination of their cases.

Mrs Aken’ova said once the cases were confirmed the patients would be recommended for treatment before the situation got out of hand.

She blamed lack of awareness and traditional beliefs on the increase in the number of cancer positive people in the state and said that the agency would mount a vigorous campaign in all the nooks and crannies of the state to educate women on the need for them  to seek medical attention once they suspected any strange development in their bodies.

The Executive Director also urged the federal and state governments to set aside special funds for the treatment of cancer patients as they have done for HIV /AIDS.

The Regional Director North Central Region of the Planned Parenthood Federation of Nigeria, Mrs. Mary Bawa in her remarks, said that early detection and treatment would stem the increase in the spread of the disease.

Mrs. Bawa said the PPFN was already working strenuously for the eradication of cancer in the country which she claimed had so far claimed 275 lives.