By Our Correspondent
As part of efforts to enlighten Nigerians on the danger prevention and early discovery of cancer and its treatment, a non-governmental organisation, Bukola Deborah Foundation has organised a day training programme for traditional Birth Attendants in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.
The one day training programme on cancer treatment and care according to the President of the Foundation, Rev. Mrs Deborah Olaosebikan is to create awareness on early discovery of Cancer, most especially, breast cancer on women, adding that the high cost of cancer therapy, inadequate access to funding and inadequate training for health workers were some of the biggest challenges in Nigeria, hence the need to train and retrain health personnel particularly, the Alternate Medicine Practitioners who are nearest to the grassroots.
Rev. Mrs Olaosebikan said the Bukola Deborah Foundation initiated the training in response and to find a way of enlightening our women on early detection of Cancer and see how to improve the capacity of the traditional Birth Attendants in different areas in partnership with Alternate Medicine Board as directed by Ogun State government.
“We are convinced that this training will bring about access to quality care on cancer, as today's participants are community based health workers who will go into their community to enlighten the women on what they learnt today.
Rev. Olaosebikan said the foundation will continue to enlighten the people, while lamenting lack of access to care among cancer patients in Nigeria.
“Although globally there are breakthroughs in the fight against cancer, Nigerians do not easily access them due to resource constraints and lack of awareness,” she said.
She noted that “breast cancer is not a death sentence, with early detection, lives of women can be saved and they can live healthy lives.”
She however revealed that the foundation will soon start an awareness walk on the cancer malaise and aid early detection, and launch self-breast examination.
Also speaking at the event, the Registrar, Ogun State Alternate Medicine Practitioners Board, Dr Kafayat Lawal said the board has mandated all alternate medicine practitioners to continue to train themselves on the activities pertaining to their profession.
Represented by the head of registration, Adeniji Adekunle, Dr Kafayat said goal of government on cancer prevention treatment is to reduce the number of women who present with late stage disease at diagnosis through community outreach and education.
He demonstrated how the breast could be examined to the beneficiaries, said breast cancer, was common among women between the ages of 24 to 40 and above, which she hinged on ignorance
The Board Registrar also sensitised the women on facts and myths surrounding breast cancer, self-examination, birth attendant and mental health.
Also speaking, Gabriel Olaosebikan, a Member of Bukola Deborah Foundation said the foundation was geared toward sensitising women on the dangers of breast cancer and the need for screening and early detection of the disease.
He said that women were the life lines of the family, hence the need to keep them healthy to continue adding value to the society.
According to him, early detection of lumps in the breast will go a long way in helping affected persons in commencing treatment early.
“We targeted the communities because they form the largest part of the state and most of the women here are not aware about breast cancer.
“So, we feel we have to come to these areas to make them knowledgeable about breast cancer for them to live healthy and carry on with their activities of taking care of their families.’’
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