50 Women Diagnosed With Cervical, Breast Cancers In Anambra

FROM IGNATIUS OKPARA, Awka,

No fewer than 50 adult women in Anambra State have been diagnosed with cervical and breast cancers.

National President of Anambra State women based in the United states of America, USA, Dr. Uche Umeh, dropped the hint on Saturday at the ongoing health summit for women at the Women Development Centre Awka, organized by the women.

She said the figure was discovered just in seven communities of the state where volunteers were screened.

African Examiner reports that the women’s health summit featured lectures on cancer prevention and treatment, as well as early detection methods.

Dr Umeh in her speech, explained that the summit was put together with a view to creating deeper awareness among women in the state.

She reiterated Association,s plan to build a cancer centre at the Amaku General Hospital (Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital in Awka).

Dr. Umeh, also urged the public and private sectors to assist in building the centre estimated at over N451 million.

Anambra State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Joe Akabuike, in his lecture entitled “Cervical Cancer: Prevention and Management in the Developing World”, revealed that cervical cancer is a sexually transmitted disease that is preventable and treatable through a vaccine that ought to be administered on children before puberty.

He said “We thank God we have a vaccine that can be used to immunise persons against the virus, and government is preparing to give young school children that vaccine to prevent them from having cervical cancer.

The Commissioner however, warn the people against sexual promiscuity.