Lagos state governor calls on corporate bodies and NGOs to join fight against cancer

June 15, 2015 6:07 PM

The governor while decrying the number of lives lost to cancer called on corporate bodies, NGOs and individuals to invest in healthcare to reduce disease burden.

Lagos state governor, Akinwumi Ambode has urged corporate organisations, NGOs and individuals to invest in cancer awareness, diagnosis, treatment, prevention and research to reduce the burden of the disease.

The plea was made at a programme organised by the Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy In Nigeria (CECP) to celebrate his birthday, tagged ‘The Banquet of Stars Against Cancer’, where he was by the Deputy Governor, Dr Oluranti Adebule.

The programme also served to commemorate the Cancer Awareness Week, raise fund and mobilise Nigerians to fight cancer scourge.

He therefore urged those who planned gifts and adverts for the celebration of his birthday to channel the funds towards the fight against cancer.

Former Chairman of the United Bank for Africa, Mr Tony Elumelu, in a keynote address highlighted lack of fund and private sector involvement as factors militating against adequate health care facilities in Nigeria.

He added that his group had resolved to raise more than N1 billion in 10 years to fight cancer with the goal of acquiring and deploying 37 Mobile Cancer Centres (MCC), which would take health promotion to grassroots of Nigeria.

To this end, he called on other organisations to be a part of the fight against cancer by donating generously to the course.

Dr Abia Nzelu, Secretary, CECP who also spoke at the event said that one in three Nigerians would be diagnosed of cancer in their life time, while 100, 000 news cases were diagnosed yearly and 80, 000 died annually of cancer in Nigeria.

Also lending his voice to the course, Olorogun-Ibru asked the Lagos State Government to kick-start the campaign by donating a mobile cancer centre, to set an example for other states.