Delta Government says it will improve on the medical facilities at the Delta State University Teaching Hospital (DELSUTH) Oghara, to enable it handle effectively terminal diseases such as cancer.
Gov. Emmanuel Uduaghan, who announced this on Tuesday night in Asaba, said that the government’s plan would enhance the people’s health and prevent Nigerians from spending billions of dollars abroad on medical care.
The governor spoke at the presentation of a film on cancer disease which was title: “Living Funeral’’ by Pink Pearl Foundation, an NGO.
He said that the high prevalence rate of cancer, kidney failure and other terminal diseases in the country was worrisome and the state government was determined to make a mark in checking the trend.
“We will continue to lay more emphasis on improving our health sector, so that our people do not travel abroad for medical treatment,” he said.
He said that the state would also continue to initiate programmes and policies that would help to improve on the living standard of the people.
Uduaghan commended Pink Pearl Foundation for its initiative in combating cancer in the country through its enlightenment campaigns and counselling programmes.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the film showed the raving effects of cancer and efforts being made by the NGO to check its spread.
In her remarks, the Chief Executive Officer of the foundation, Mrs Orode Ryan-Okpu, said that the film was aimed at portraying the life of a cancer patient, challenges treatment, survival.
Ryan-Okpu explained that “Living Funeral” was a way of expressing how critical breast cancer had become in Nigerian society.
“Making this movie created a sustained way to raise awareness for breast cancer, not just in Nigeria but across Africa and the world.
“This film also demonstrates how to survive as a cancer patient and support someone living with it.
“It also reveals that no amount of money can keep a victim alive like the compassion from family and companions,” she said.
On his part, the Movie Director, Mr Udoka Oyeka, noted that cancer, if not detected early, would definitely lead to death.
“I must commend Mrs Ryan-Okpu for the work she had been doing for the past six years with the Pink Pearl Foundation. Nigeria truly needs more people like her.
“I hope the message we are trying to pass hits home as we tackle breast cancer with the power of cinema,’’ he said.
Earlier in the day, the NGO conducted a free breast cancer screening for women when a medical doctor, Ann Ojimba, warned women against smoking cigarettes and drinking alcohol.
Ojimba said that the habits aided the growth of cancer, pointing out that cases of breast cancer were higher in older women.
She also warned women against other unhealthy lifestyle and advised them to take plenty of water and have good rest for up to seven hours daily as well as exercise in order to live healthier.
“Today the foundation will be testing you on breast cancer, but there is another cancer suffered by women called cervical cancer.
“Cancer is a deadly disease and we do not want you to suffer from this and die, there is no cure for the disease but it is preventable if it is detected early.
Ojimba told them that the incidence was higher as people grew older and advised that young women should go for routine checks at least once a year.
The medical doctor also advised that women above 30 years should go for routine checks three times yearly.
She enjoined women to visit the hospital any time they felt pains on the breast nipple or have unusual fluid from the breast or a lump on the breast.
She told them to visit the hospital when they noticed that one breast was becoming bigger or smaller than the other.
Ojimba also said that women should visit a specialist to check for cervical cancer if they began to notice unusual blood coming out of their cervix.