6th December, 2010
The Lagos State Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, WAPA, in conjunction with the Ministry of Health has flagged off free breast cancer and cervical cancer screening for thousands of female teachers in the state’s public schools.
Statistics has it that breast and cervical cancers have killed thousands of women in Nigeria while early detection is key to survival. Most Nigerian women have neglected to check their status in this area, thus, falling prey to the killer disease.
The screening, taking place in the six education districts of Lagos State, southwest Nigeria, was flagged off at Vetland Senior Grammar School, where officials of the Health Ministry screened several teachers of breast and cervical cancers as well as diabetes and hypertension.
The programme is part of the enlightenment campaign on the need for women to check their breasts and cervical cancer status to avert untimely death.
A teacher from Vetland Junior Grammar School, Mrs. Anthonia Onwuegbuzie, said the programme was very encouraging as it enabled them to check their status without having to pay for it.
Another teacher, Mrs. Mulikat Adeyemi said there was the need for women to know their status so as to avert the pains that come with contacting the disease, adding that she had undergone breast cancer examination before.
As for Mrs. Omotola Kikelomo, “it is good for us to know the state of our health. I have done my blood pressure and sugar level test before. Before now, I have also heard of breast cancer but I know I am free from it.â€
“I have never seen this kind of programme before as government has brought relief to teachers by coming to us. Teachers are very busy and do not have time to go for such breast examination because of tight schedule.
“Since the programme has been brought to our doorstep, it is better for us. It is important that we go through this cancer screening. We should submit ourselves to be screened,†said Mrs. Funke Kujenbola.
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