5000 women to benefit from N57m free cervical cancer care in Anambra

Wife of Anambra Governor, Dr Nonye Soludo, says no fewer than 5,000 women
will benefit from free secondary cervical cancer screening and treatment project.

Soludo made this known at the launch of the six months Cervical Cancer Prevention and Elimination  Project
in Awka on Friday.

The project is an initiative of the governor’s wife is in collaboration with the Clinton Health Access initiative (CHAI)
and the World Health Organisation (WHO).

She identified the lack of screening procedure, unreliable diagnostic tools and late presentation of cases
as some of the factors contributing to high fatality rate of the disease.

She added that “experts and studies have shown that if diagnosed early, cervical cancer can be treated and managed well.

“This is why we are collaborating with WHO and CHAI to launch this project that will provide free cervical cancer screening
and treatment for over 5000 women in Anambra.

“We are optimistic that this six months project will reduce the burden of cervical cancer in the state.

“We will ensure that every woman has access to services and also urge women in communities to come out and get tested
and treated.”

Dr Adewale Olusegun, the CHAI Representative, said the group provided materials for the cervical cancer screening, diagnosis and treatment.

Olusegun said “we are also providing technical support in terms of training of healthcare workers to identify cancerous lesions, and
we will be monitoring the project in the state.

“This partnership is to help us meet the Cervical Cancer Elimination target by 2030.”

Dr Adamu Abdul-Nasir, the State Coordinator, WHO, commended the state government for providing counterpart funding and the
political will to fight cervical cancer.

He said “Anambra is one of the few leading states committed to remitting counterpart funding. For this cervical cancer project, it is about N57 million. WHO provided N47 million, while the state government promptly released N9.2 million, as other partners will provide the balance.

“We are going to hand over consumables to the state government; we will support training of personnel, as well as provide technical
support in terms of screening and treatment too.”

In his remarks, the Commissioner for Health, Dr Afam Obidike, said the state government was committed to championing the fight against the killer disease.

Obidike added that “cervical cancer is a preventable disease. It’s also 90 per cent curable if detected early and adequately treated.

“The state’s teaching hospital, three general hospitals and about six primary healthcare centres will provide the pilot programme of the
cervical cancer elimination campaign.”

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mrs Soludo was conferred with “The Ambassador for Cervical Cancer Elimination in Anambra”

at the occasion, in recognition of her relentless advocacy and support for the fight against cancer.(NAN)