Government to conduct nationwide screening for cancer

diamond hope

February 5, 2018 2:29 PM

The Minister of Health, Isaac Adewole revealed the government's plan to reduce the mortality rate attributed to cancer.

On Sunday, February 4, 2018, the Minister of Health Isaac Adewole stated that the government has concluded plans to conduct nationwide screening for most common types of cancers.

Adewole said this in a statement issued to mark 2018 World Cancer Day which is internationally recognized on February 4 annually. This year's World Cancer day has the theme “We can, I can.”

This year’s theme was geared toward exploring individual and collective drive in reducing the global burden of cancer, the minister said.

Adewole said individuals could play their role in fighting cancer through healthy lifestyle choices by engaging in weekly physical activities for at least two and half hours for adult, and an hour for children. He said other lifestyle modifications included avoiding tobacco smoking and eating a healthy diet, limiting alcohol intake and staying safe under the sun.

Adewole also emphasized that high index of suspicion for early symptoms and signs of cancer were important because finding cancer early makes it easier to treat and cure.

Adewole said the commissioning of a new radiotherapy machine at National Hospital Abuja, recently, would provide easy access to radiation treatment for Nigerians.

This follows the recent alarm on rising global incidence of cancer by the World Health Organization (WHO) should worry African countries, including Nigeria, where the disease is most prevalent. In Nigeria, about 10,000 cancer deaths are recorded annually while 250,000 new cases are recorded yearly.

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