By Najib Sani, Gombe
The Medical Women Association of Nigeria (MWAN) in collaboration with the North East Development Commission (NEDC) on Wednesday organised a health awareness and screening exercise for breast and cervical cancer in Gombe State.
During the event, they have embarked on cervical cancer screening to over 500 women, and vaccination to girls between the age of 9 to 14 years.
Dr Hauwa Adamu, representative of MWAN, stated that the initiative seeks to tackle the growing prevalence of cervical and breast cancer in the state.
"The event, aimed at promoting early detection and treatment, targeted 500 women for cervical cancer screening and vaccination", she said.
She urged women in the state to take advantage of the available vaccines and free screening services, particularly for those above the vaccination age, and encouraged men to support their wives, daughters, and sisters in accessing these services.
Adamu highlighted the need for increased awareness and action to tackle breast cancer and cervical cancer in the state, pledging the MWAN's commitment to continue their efforts in promoting women's health and wellbeing.
Also speaking, Dr Bawa Gift, a cancer surgeon at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Gombe, called on the government to collaborate with MWAN and other organisations to tackle breast cancer, highlighting that the prevalence of breast cancer in Nigeria is 54 in every 100,000 women.
While Dr Halima Usman Farouk, a consultant gynecologist at the hospital, revealed that over half a million women globally get infected with cervical cancer, with less developed countries accounting for the higher risk.
The experts emphasised the importance of early detection and screening, noting that breast cancer has no prevention, and cervical cancer can be prevented with vaccination and regular screening.
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