Chioma Umeha
Mrs. Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, wife of Ondo State
Governor and founder of Breast Cancer Association of Nigeria (BRECAN) wants
Nigerians to always identify cancer patients in the area of financial support,
as it is one of the forces needed to beat cancer as a life-threatening disease.
Speaking to newsmen at a fund-raising dinner
organised by Project Pink Blue, tagged: ‘Show Love’ at the Congress Hall of
Transcorp Hilton Hotel Abuja, she expressed her concern on Nigerian’s poor
giving attitude when it comes to patient support, which according to her is a
major force needed to beat cancer.
She said a lot of women die of cancer because of
the delay in raising fund for treatment, which gives room for the cancer cell
to multiply as the disease progresses with time.
The Ondo State First Lady used the occasion to
call on Nigerians to spread the message of early detection which saves lives by
adhering to the periodic breast self-examination
She further admonished them to discard the
misconception that breast cancer is a spiritual attack, and see it as a pure
medical issue by presenting early for medical check, rather than going to a
prayer mountain.
Through public education, advocacy, patient
support, and research, she pledged not to relent in her fight against breast
cancer as a life-threatening disease.
At the occasion, Akeredolu and 17 others in were
bestowed with an award of ‘Legend of Cancer Control in Nigeria’ in recognition
of their relentless fight against cancer in the country.
In his welcome address, Runcie Chidebe, the
founder and Executive Director of Project Pink Blue, said their ‘Show Love’
fund-raising programme was borne out of their passion to make a little
difference in the society, adding that government alone cannot do it all.
“Project Pink Blue registered as Health and
Psychological trust centre is a cancer non-profit, engaged in raising cancer
awareness, patient navigation, advocacy and free breast and cervical cancer
screening for women living in poverty.”
Highlights of the event were fund raising to
support people living with cancer to get timely treatment, cancer awareness,
and special presentations by guest artists and comedians.
The well attended event had the Executive Governor
of Kebbi State, His Excellency, Abubakar
Atiku Bagudu, and his wife, Dr. Zainab Bagudu.
The First Lady of Niger State, Her Excellency, Dr
Amina Bello and her Kaduna State counterpart, Hajiya Hadiza El-Rufai were also
present.
The representative of the US ambassador, senators,
Managing Director of African Independent Television and other captains of
industry, celebrities, cancer survivors, cancer advocates and a host of others
were also in attendance.
