By Aminah Adediji-Soladoye
Wife of the Kwara State Governor, Professor Olufolake AbdulRazaq, has reaffirmed her commitment to supporting cancer awareness, screening and treatment.
Professor AbdulRazaq made the commendation at the Pink Kwara Health Forum, Breast Cancer Awareness and Early detention held at Banquet Hall, Ilorin, emphasising the need for comprehensive care that addresses patients’ physical, mental and emotional well-being.
The First-Lady, who is the Founder of the Ajike People Support Centre, commended the organisers of the Pink Kwara breast cancer screening campaign for providing free screening to 1,000 women, describing the initiative as a significant intervention to promote early detection and improve access to healthcare.
The Chairperson of the Nigerian Governor’s Spouses Forum called on eligible women and men to take advantage of screening opportunities and encouraged families and community leaders to promote participation, stressing that early detection and timely treatment could save lives.
Earlier, the Convener of Pink Kwara, a Medical Radiographer, Ramat Yusahu Abdulkadir, explained that the vision of the initiative is to make breast cancer screening and healthcare services more accessible to women, regardless of their financial circumstances.
Abdulkadir appreciated the Wife the State Governor, Professor Olufolake AbdulRazaq, for supporting the Pink Kwara vision and called for collaboration and collective support from government, healthcare professionals, corporate organizations and other stakeholders to make breast cancer care accessible to every woman.
In his keynote address, A Professor of Surgery from the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Professor Olaide Suleman Agodirin, said breast cancer is a medical condition like every other medical condition and not a spiritual attack.
Professor Agodirin stated that one of the major misconceptions fueling late presentation is the belief that breast cancer is caused by spiritual forces, rather it has medical explanation and medical treatment, urging women to seek early medical attention instead of spiritual solutions.
He commended Pink Kwara for creating awareness and providing accessible screening for women in the state.
The breast cancer survivors encouraged others women to always go for medical checkup as early detection is the key to treatment.
