Medical Experts in Kogi State have lamented over non-available of data for people suffering from prostate cancer in Nigeria.

Speaking on the sideline of prostate cancer awareness month on Wednesday, a team of medical experts under the auspice of ‘Cancer of the Prostate Trans-Atlantic Consortium, (CAPTC) Federal Medical Center, (FMC) Site Lokoja’ submitted that, prostate cancer is the second leading cause of death for men in Nigeria.

The team lead of CAPTC site Lokoja, a consultant Surgeon with Federal Medical Center, Lokoja, Dr Taiwo Jones Olaoluwa said it is very worrisome that there is no available statistics for people suffering from prostate cancer despite it is one of the leading causes of death for Men in Nigeria.

“We actually run a cancer registry here at the Federal Medical center Lokoja. That is supposed to be something that will feed up to the central cancer registry in the Federal ministry of Health. But a number of patients that present to the hospital is the only one we have. We cannot feed in data without adequate diagnosis.

“So if a patient die in a private hospital from suspected cancer of prostate, without you confirming it, you can’t label such. The only data we have is the one we are able to diagnose in FMC. And that is a big problem which should be looked into if we much reduce death rate as a result of prostate cancer in Nigeria” he added.

According to him, the aim of the awareness programme is to prevent the advent of prostate cancer which he termed a silent killer disease for Men within the ages of 50 and above.

The surgeon explained that early detection and testing remains the best way of reducing death rate in Nigeria caused by prostate cancer.

A Consultant Urologist, Federal Medical Center Lokoja, Dr Ayodeji Ogunmola said Cancer of the Prostate Trans-Atlantic consortium, (CAPTC) has the mandate to improve the disparity in prostate cancer in Men.

According to him, there is no specific cause of prostate cancer adding that, Government at all level should invest in cancer research to reduce the rate of death attributed to the disease.

His words “Prevention, they say is always better than cure. Prostate cancer is generally littered in the society especially in the third world country like Nigeria, because of inadequate investment and lack of adequate education for people to know that this disease is in existence.

“A lot of people tend to arrogate this disease to arrows sent by the evil people in their community, instead of going for periodic screening so that you can pick it early and commence adequate treatment. By the time we began to see patients who are already in advance stage and there is no much that can be offered in terms of services, things get worsen.

“So most patients tend to believe that it is death sentence. But is not actually so. The way is to invest in cancer research, pick it early and be able to institute adequate treatment that will lead to elongation of life”.

Earlier in his remarks, the Chief Medical Director, Federal Medical Center, Lokoja Dr Olatunde Alabi said the management of FMC is committed towards reducing prostate cancer in Nigeria.

“Prostate cancer is one of the cancer that is prevalent in this environment. Government has done enough on its awareness programme. It is something that is preventable if you are screened earlier and take the appropriate step. Our plans now is to emphacize awareness and screen early diagnosis and treatment” he added.

Prostate cancer is a form of cancer that begins in the gland cells of the prostate which is found only in males.

End

In his opening remarks, Dr Ekundayo Samuel, the Executive Director of DHF, described the organisation as a not-for-profit, non-political and non-governmental organisation located at Isanlu, Yagba East L.G.A, Kogi State, Nigeria.

He explained that the organization was established with the aim of promoting the health and wellbeing of the population by reducing cancer threat.

”Our programs are designed to raise cancer awareness and education in the society; provide easy access to cancer screening, diagnosis, management; and enhance the quality of life of cancer patients,” he said

He noted that the symposium was organised as part of the organisation’s statutory activities to reduce cancer threat especially in Nigeria.

He stated that Breast Cancer had taken over as the leading cancer type globally from Lung Cancer.

According to him, although there is no enough accurate data, breast cancer is still the leading cancer type in Nigeria and many people die from the disease yearly.

He stated that over 2.3 Million people currently are diagnosed with Breast Cancer and around 700, 000 people have died from it.

”In Nigeria, as of today within a five year period, four out of five cancer patients hardly survive the disease including patients with breast cancer.

”That is why the organisation is clamoring for ways to help in preventing breast cancer and how cancer patients can cope,” Samuel said.

Dr Samuel noted DHF remained one of the very few Cancer focused NGO located in a rural areas because of its believe that people in the rural areas also have right to access cancer care benefits.

He acknowledged the support of Patela Care Foundation, and encouraged other bigger NGO’s to support DHF in any way they could.

The various Guest speakers, who spoke at the symposium, urged the people to take every precautionary measure to prevent, detect breast and cervical cancers at early stage.

In his lecture, Dr. Sesan Oluwasola, Consultant/Gynecologist, University College Hospital Ibadan, who spoke on ”Research perspective” of the topic, stressed that ‘prevention is better than cure’ as far as cancer management was concerned.

He explained that breast cancer has highest prevalence in Nigerian women followed by Cervical cancer, adding that both cancers if detected early could achieve hundred percent cure.

He added: ”but unfortunately, most Nigeria women only report when the disease has gone out of hands”.

He noted that breast cancer was very high in developed countries but with low mortality rate, while in developing countries like Nigeria breast cancer lower but with high mortality rate.

This, he said was as a result of inadequate measures and access to cancer health care facilities.

The medical expert advised women to be careful to take every precautionary measure either to prevent or to detect breast and cervical cancers early.

According to him, when it comes to breast and cervical cancers, being a woman is a risk factor and woman without family history and other high risk can still be infected with breast cancer.

Also speaking, Dr. Foluke Sarimiye, Co-founder/Executive Director, Patela Care Foundation, who spoke on ”Psychological issues and Coping Mechanism”, said every cancer has psychological issues associated with it like anxiety and depression.

Sarimiye, who is a Consultant in Clinical Oncology and Lecturer at University of Ibadan, noted that Breast represent a symbol of Feminism in women, saying, ”it takes a lot of courage, strength, psychotherapy and support especially from spouse for a lady to have a breast cancer surgery.

She added that knowledge was key in the aspect of coping mechanism of breast cancer, as it involved knowing when to have routine mammogram for women above 40 years, health system available to each economic constraint and know more about the disease.

On his part, Mr Runcie Chidebe, Executive Director, Project Pink Blue, said Nigerians were battling with cancer after undergoing treatment because of inadequate cancer research data in the country.

Chidebe decried that Nigeria only have six Oncological Clinical trials ongoing in the country out of over 100,000 cancer patients yearly.

He stressed that with over 200 million population if more precaution was not put in place, by the year 2040 the death from cancer patients would be multiplied by 50 per cent.

Another speaker, Mrs. Adedayo Olusayo, a cancer survivor who shared her experience, said she was depressed as a widow because there was no money, but her doctor encouraged her and she was able to get support.

Olusayo said she had her surgery, followed by Chemotherapy and then Radiation therapy, adding that she was able to go through all these through her family and relatives’ support as well as support from her religious institution.

The cancer survivor decried the attitude of some healthcare workers towards cancer patients, saying it was not encouraging.

She encouraged cancer patients to speak up and not be afraid of any stigma as it is a matter of life and death.

She stressed that diagnosing and treating breast cancer early give a higher chance of survival.

Dr. Alhassan Umar Adamu, the President of Nigerian Cancer Society, appreciated the efforts of DHF for organising the program; and the guest speakers for their various contributions.

Adamu noted that Nigeria has very few professionals (Clinical Oncologist) to match the multitude of cancer patients in the country.

He said it was very challenging for patients to access cancer treatments and care because most of the processes available were not affordable to the masses which remained the major problem of cancer care in Nigeria.

Adamu encouraged the people to stand and be there for every cancer patients in Nigeria, saying no one organisation could do it alone.

He encouraged cancer NGOs on the need to team up to scale up the advocacy and policy engagement to significantly reduce the rate of cancer in Nigeria.

Other speakers who spoke at the event were: Mrs. Eniola Akintunde, Executive Director Niola Cancer Care Foundation; and Dr. Ishak Lawal – Technical Advisor Dove-Haven Foundation (DHF).

The speakers advised the government and cancer NGOs to work together so that Nigeria could have own cancer research data, stressing that the country could not continue to rely on data gotten from other countries.

They enjoined cancer patients to listen to their doctors in order to cope with the disease, while urging doctors to have cordial relationship with their patients.

The speakers also encouraged every stakeholder to come together to promote cancer prevention strategies, and be an advocate at religious centres, working places and mostly on social media.

End

No fewer than 8,000 women diagnosed with cancer of the cervix are losing their lives annually in Nigeria.

This figure was made known by the Medical Women Association of Nigeria, at the official kickoff of free cervical screening for all Women in Kogi State.

Speaking to newsmen on Friday as part of activities to mark the 2021 International Women’s Day, the President, Medical Women Association of Nigeria, Kogi State Chapter, Dr Abimbola Adesanya said Cancer of the cervix is ranked amongst the top three cancers affecting women globally.

She said in 2018, an estimated 570,000 women were diagnosed with cancer of the cervix worldwide.

Dr Adesanya who is a consultant Public Health Physician at Federal Medical Centre Lokoja, added that over 300,000 women die annually from the disease with over 80% of cases occurring in developed countries.

“In Nigeria an estimated 10,000 new cases are being diagnosed every year, with 8000 women dying from the cancer every year” She added.

The consultant Public Health Physician averred further that this year international women day is coming at a time the world is battling with a common enemy called “corona virus” adding that the screening will help women know their cancer status and how to go about it for treatment.

Although she noted that scientist have not been able to ascertain the actual cause of cancer, Dr Adesanya maintained that there are risk factors that could make a women get cancer.

The international women days which is observed globally on the 8th of March annually has this year Theme: ‘Women in leadership: Achieving an equal future in a COVID-19 world.

The day was first celebrated in 1911 in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland, according to the international media.

The lineage of the celebration can be traced back to 1908, when 15,000 female workers marched in New York City as they sought more humane working hours, better pay and the right to vote.

End

The event was in corroboration of the launch of the global strategy for the elimination of cervical cancer by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

The strategy, which was launched on Tuesday November, 2020, was geared towards achieving the 90:70:90 targets set by WHO to eradicate cervical cancer globally by the year 2030.

The event was symbolised with the lightning of the Bristol Foundation Tower at the Bristol garden, Olaiya, Osogbo, Osun State, attracted dignitaries and medical experts.

In his welcome address, the convener and Executive Director of Dove-Haven Foundation, Dr Ekundayo Samuel, expressed his concerned about the threat that cervical cancer is posing, and also the several damages it would continue to cause if nothing is done.

According to Samuel, the purpose of our gathering here today is that, we are joining other stakeholders in the world to launch the global strategy for the elimination of cervical cancer by the year 2030.

”Currently in Nigeria, despite the inaccurate statistics, we still know that breast and cervical cancer accounts for over 50% of all cancer in women.

”However, cervical cancer-related death is still more than 10,000 yearly with an annual incidence of approximately 15,000 cases”, he said.

The DHF executive director further stressed that the statistics was still alarming, saying this collaboration would make it possible for the quick elimination of the scourge in Osun state.

In his remarks, the Hon. Commissioner for Health, Osun State, Dr Rafiu Isamotu, commended Dove-Haven Foundation for the good work, and promised that the government through his the Ministry of Health would always be available to help at all times in the fight against cervical cancer.

In his words, “I want to thank everybody, especially the World Health Organisation for their effort in deciding a way to ending cervical cancer in the world because it is something that truly can be eradicated.

”As a state, we would collaborate with any organisation such as Dove-Haven Foundation that are committed to ending cervical cancer in our state.

”Osun state is committed with the backing of our leader, Governor Adegboyega Oyetola in making sure that everyone enjoys good health”.

In his goodwill message, Dr Siji Olamiju, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Public Health, thanked the organisers for bringing the event to Osun State.

According to him, the scourge of cervical cancer is huge in our society as it affects all female including our daughters, wives and mothers.

”I want to use this opportunity to thank the Dove-Haven Foundation and other foundations across the globe waging war against cervical cancer”, Olamiju said.

The Director, Public Health, Osun State Ministry of Health, Dr Adepoju Gbenga, expressed his optimism towards the awareness against cervical cancer.

He said: ”If we can end Polio in Nigeria, this is achievable, I believe it can be prevented. Let us all join hands together to support this organisation”.

Dr Abayomi Oni, Director Medical Services, Hospital Management Board, Osun State also assures the Foundation of their support whenever needed.

Dr Adefila A.V, Consultant Family Physician LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, and Dr Sekinah Bola-Oyebamiji, gynae-oncology unit, LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Osogbo, both reiterated the need to eradicate cervical cancer as women do not in most cases enjoy life at the later stages of their lives due to death or pain from this disease.

The Hon. commissioner for Health, Osun State, Dr Rafiu Isamotu officially launched the awareness and action plan, which was beautifully lit with teal green colour on the Bristol Fountain Tower located at the centre of the state capital. The inscription on the monument largely reads: “END CERVICAL CANCER”.

The launch programme was also supported by Saving One Million Lives Programme for Results, Iyanu Ni Oluwa Pharmacy and Baby Mart, Favoured Emmanuel Health Care Limited, Osogbo, Bristol Garden and Park, Osogbo, and Victory Montessori Int’l School, Osogbo.

End