Laraba MUREY
As the world marks the World Cancer Day, the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists, NAWOJ, Zone D, North Central, has called on the governments of North-Central states and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, to prioritize cancer care and prevention.
According to NAWOJ’s National Vice President, Zone D, Chizoba Ogbeche, cancer remains a significant public health challenge due to limited access to prevention, diagnosis, treatment, care tools and systems, which affects the masses, especially women.
Ogbeche, emphasized the importance of prevention, early detection, and treatment, citing the World Health Organization’s WHO, statistics that an estimated 20 million new cancer cases and 9.7 million cancer-related deaths were reported globally in 2022.
“Projections predict an 87.5% increase in new cancer cases by 2050,” she added.
To address this challenge, Ogbeche tasked the state governments and the FCT administration to invest in improved screening, diagnosis, and access to cancer medication.
“This could be achieved by improving cancer prevention and screening through primary health care and strengthening cancer management through PHCs and community level care,” she said.
The NAWOJ vice president stressed that reducing the burden of cancer requires a mix of public health and health system interventions.
“Between 30% and 50% of cancer deaths could be prevented by modifying environmental and behavioral risk factors and infections,” she noted.
