By: ULAYI, Emmanuel.
Her Excellency Dr. (Mrs.) Linda Ayade delivered a talk, sharing her experiences about Cancer care during a symposium as part of activities to mark the 2021 International Cancer Week. The event which was organized by First Ladies Against Cancer, FLAC, under the theme ‘Cancer Care for all Through Strategic Advocacy and Investment’ was held in Abuja.
The Governor’s wife who spoke about her heightened advocacy on cancer awareness through her NGO, CROWEI, and her School-Based Health Clubs spread across various schools in Cross River State, called on women to watch out for early presentations of symptoms so as to prevent the spread of the disease while highlighting the challenges faced by cancer sufferers in the state to include poverty which limits access to proper care; lack of affordable care facilities in the state. As a result of the high cost of private facilities, people have to go to Enugu, Ibadan and other distant locations to queue for radiotherapy in the absence of affordable services in the state. She reported that many have died while waiting their turn as people sometimes stay on the queue for up to six months.
Dr. Ayade decried a situation where cancer patients often prefer to seek help from churches, spiritual homes and herbalists while praising her collaboration with ARCON, and MWAN in occasional subsidized screening services.
In conclusion, the Governor’s wife expressed joy that the Cross River State Government was building a referral hospital at Obudu which will provide both diagnostic and therapeutic services in the very near future as the facility was 70% completed.
A high point in the ceremony was the presentation of an award of excellence in recognition of her outstanding role in cancer prevention and control in Nigeria.
