Lagos Govt Partners Nollywood On Cancer Campaign

Lagos State Government has expressed its readiness to engage the services of prominent Nollywood Actresses in strengthening the awareness campaign on cancer to educate the people to take proactive measures towards early detection and treatment.

Lagos State Deputy Governor, Princess Adejoke Orelope Adefulire said this while hosting members of the Nollywood Actresses for Change, led by Chief (Mrs.) Rachael Oniga. She said the important roles of entertainment and education which the Nollywood actresses play makes them viable agents of change and medium of public enlightenment. Orelope-Adefulire in company of other top government officials stated that there is an urgent need to embark on awareness campaign programme that can educate the residents especially women on various preventive methods to avoid contact with the deadly cancer disease, which she noted was rampant among women. According to her, ‘’there is an urgent need to address the issue of cancer considering the fact that our people are not well educated on how they could prevent it or where to go for regular medical check up for early detection of its existence in the body.”

The Deputy Governor explained that the state government in its efforts to eradicate the menace of cancer in the state established medical and tests centres in local government areas where women can visit regularly for check-ups and treatment where necessary on cervical and breast cancer.

She added that there is also the need to regularly go for free blood pressure test provided by the state government, nothing that the collaboration between star actresses and the state government in enlightening the people would enable government to achieve its desire.

She equally charged the actresses to use their film industry to help the society reduce cases of domestic violence, child trafficking, kidnapping and child abuse through highly educative work that can genuinely edify minds of the people on the need to shun various social vices that can undermine the growth of the society.

The Deputy Governor equally used the occasion to call on leaders of various religious organisations to help educate their followers on the need to eschew violence and allow peace to reign in the interest of the nation.

The leader of the delegation, Chief (Mrs.) Rachael Oniga explained that the body was willing to complement government efforts in eradicating diseases and poverty in the State through the use of their skills and acceptability to create awareness and educate the people on the need to take issues of their health very seriously.