NIGERIA. Niger: The women in the Gurara local government area of Niger state have been given free cancer screening to reduce the incidents of cancer cases in rural areas. After being treated, the women were also given medications for minor ailments during the program.
The program was carried out by the Niger State Commissioner of Culture and Tourism in partnership with the Planned Parenthood Federation of Nigeria (PPFN) at the ECWA Primary Health Care in Diko.
The outreach
The programme was meant to support women in accessing free medical service on cervical cancer and creating awareness of its possible symptoms.
Speaking during the flag-off, the Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Rifkatu Adamu Chidawa said that serious advocacy is needed in the area of cancer.
She urged the women to stay away from using the services of the local healers as they will only take their money under the guise of healing them.
She also alerted the women while asking them to stay conscious of the symptoms of cancer. She said if the women learn about the symptoms, they will know which solution to seek.
The screening
During the screening, all the women tested negative for cancer but it was also discovered that the majority of the women were suffering from high blood pressure.
The Matron, Matton Munirat Ayonlowo who screened the women told Transcontinental Times that high blood pressure is peculiar in virtually all the women in the forum.
She said, to achieve the targets in the health sector in the country, there is a need for the roads across the state and nation to be repaired as poor roads discourage people from attending health facilities.
PPFN
The Planned Parenthood Federation of Nigeria (PPFN) appealed to the women to pass on the knowledge to other women and sensitize them about what they have learned.
The PPFN Acting Regional Coordinator in North Central of Nigeria, John Chawa noted that early treatment can save the lives of affected women with cancer, therefore, they must visit the health centers to be checked.
Speaking about PPFN, Chawa said, the federation is focused on sexual reproductive services adding that they are delighted to collaborate with the commissioner to compliment the efforts of the government in the fight against cancer.
Chawa added that the PPFN medical team is well trained and specialized in cervical cancer detection and screening.
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