Medical Practitioners Task C'River Govt On Incorporating Cancer Education In School Curriculum
By Hannah ARIKPO
In a bid to create awareness against the cancer disease, medical practitioners have imploree the state government to incorporate cancer education in the academic curriculum of secondary schools in Cross River state.
A Consultant Pathologist at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, UCTH, Professor Ima - Obong Ekanem, stated this in Calabar.
Prof.Ekanem who spoke during a symposium organized by the state branch of Medical Women Association (MWAN) with the theme;"Close the gap, challenging those in power opined that such step will assist in equipping the next generation with with adequate information on the dreaded disease to stem the stem disturbing ratio of cases.
She explained that the event was meant to mark the 2024 World Cancer day, stressing that the provision of basic knowledge about cancer in the school curriculum will not only address misconceptions about the disease being contagious or a curse from the gods but will expose learners at an early age about risky lifestyles capable of resulting in cancers.
She lamented growing misinformation which has caused many to ignore early warning signs of the disease which if detected early, can be treated and guarantee a cure for life.
"Government should provide early cancer education in the conventional school curriculum of secondary schools, tertiary and health institutions, even at the primary level.
"That will provide the younger ones with information about lifestyles responsible for developing cancers, like excessive consumption of alcohol, smoking not just cigarettes but anything that pollutes the lungs, processed food, bleaching cream and early sexual exposure which causes cervical cancer or can drinks. These toxins damage the kidney and cause different kinds of diseases not only cancer", Prof. Ekanem revealed.
Also speaking,a former managing director, Federal Neuro Psychiatry hospital, Calabar, Dr. Bassey Edem observed that the survival rate of cancer patients is estimated at eighty percent in Nigeria while other Africa countries struggle for twenty percent and called for concerted efforts to change the believe systems which discourage cancer treatment as well as the establishment of community Oncology teams.
During one of the plenary sessions, a Consultant Oncology Surgeon,UCTH, Calabar Dr. Joe Udosen, harped on the importance of regular screening, early detection and treatment adding that breast cancer, cervical and prostrate are the most popular with cervical cancer on the lead but highly preventable.
The Head of Oncology Pharmacy Unit, UCTH, Calabar and Focal pharmacist Nigerian Cancer Access Partnership, (N- CAP), Cross River state, Dr. Ijeoma Okwesileze, disclosed "cancer which is gradually becoming an epidemic in Nigeria compelled the federal government to evolve three strategies to curb the trend by establishing cancer designated centers in the country, instituted the Nigerian Cancer Partnership, one in each of the six geo political regions in the country for free treatment of cancer patients with Enugu teaching hospital as a referral centre in the South, as well as the National Health Rotch Partnership programme where patients pay twenty percent for their treatment, thirty percent by the NHIS and fifth percent by Rotch and encouraged people to register with the NHIS so as to benefit from the programme.
The President Medical Women Association of Nigerian (MWAN) Cross River state, Dr Minika Hagan - Okon, disclosed that the association had for the past ten years organized health talk at different intervals, breast and cervical cancer screening and recently added prostrate cancer screening for men, educated women on breast cancer examination, sponsored treatment of some cancer patients as well as consultations in its Well Woman clinic once every month.
"I want to commend the Asi - Ukpo diagnostic Centre that is always partnering with the MWAN in Calabar, I use this opportunity to appeal to governments at all levels and philanthropic organisations in the onerous task of informing and treating the populace of this dreaded disease called cancer."
Some Cancer Survivors in Calabar, testified that Cancer is not a death sentence as insinuated in some quarters and advised people to always visit health centres, hospitals at any available opportunity to screen for Cancer since early detection is key, warning that treatment backed up with prayers can work out the difference.
