Niger Governor’s wife trains health workers in parts of the state on screening, prevention of cervical cancer

Olabode Adaramola

A Consultant Gynecologist and Wife of the Niger State Governor, Dr. Amina Abubakar Bello,  has trained health workers across the state on screening and prevention therapy of cervical cancer.

This, according to her,   is in a bid to reduce the scourge of the disease which is the second leading cause of female cancer death in Nigeria.

Declaring the training open in Minna, Bello said that there is a plan to establish a cancer screening unit in each of the 25 local government areas.

The Project Co-ordinator of RAISE Foundation, Dr. Ohize Stephen said that over 35, 000 females are estimated to come down with cancer each year in Niger state with breast and cervical cancer expected to be the most common.

He said that the training is aimed towards integrating breast and cervical cancer screening into the primary healthcare system in the state, saying ,  “we believe strongly in strengthening the existing system and bringing in interventions into the system”.

“We intend to improve the capacity of these health workers to deliver and support them and their health facilities,” he stated.

Ohize stated further that RAISE Foundation, which is a Pet Project of the state Governor’s Wife is working hard towards tackling breast and cervical cancer which is one of the causes of maternal death in the state and establish a system where a woman in the rural area can be screened and intervention made when the disease is detected early.

One of the Participants, Hadiza Suleiman applauded the Foundation for training health workers,  adding that it has  improved on their knowledge and will enable them educate and mobilize the women at the grassroots.

“Cancer is very rampant now and is ravaging women in the state especially in the rural area. This training will help me educate and mobilize the women at the grassroots and ensure that they go for screening regularly,” she maintained.

Another Participant, Salisu Sule said that the training was an eye opener as he now knows that most deaths caused in the rural areas were cancer related adding that he was now better informed as he has been taught the symptoms to look out for.