By Abubakar Sadiq
Save a life Cancer Awareness and Support Network (SALCASUN) in collaboration with Community Health and Research Initiative (CHR) launches the Global Strategy to accelerate the elimination of Cervical Cancer at the Conference room of Murtala Muhammad Library, Ahmadu Bello way, Kano. The event was well attended by stakeholders and other professional bodies.
In her opening remark, Dr. Maryam Nasir who is the head of Medical Operation at the SALCASUN welcomed the guests for sparing their time to grace the occasion; she added that the launching came to being as a result of a resolution passed by the World Health Assembly in August, 2020 calling for the total elimination of Cervical Cancer and adopting a strategy for execution. She noted that today being 17th November 2020 marks the day for official launching of a strategy to accelerate the eliminating of Cervical Cancer as a public health problem.
Dr. Maryam added that, Save a life Cancer Awareness and support Network (SALCASUN) established by a Cancer Survivor about 5 years ago with the main aim of creating awareness on the two commonest cancer (Cervical Cancer and Breast Cancer) that is affecting Nigerian women, so far they have created awareness in some LGAs in Kano State, which includes; Tofa, Gwale, Kumbotso, Wudil and Minjibir. She also added that in 2018 they organized the first Cancer Walk, which was participated by over 500 people; they also participated in a series of cancer awareness and screening activities over time.
Malam Sulaiman Umar Jalo who is the programme and partnership officer in the Community Health and Research Initiative Nigeria (CHR) partners in the programme expresses his delight being part of this noble journey; he added that CHR was founded in the year 2000, and since then it has been engaging itself in a number of awareness campaigns across the country.
Furthermore, the representative of World Health Organisation (WHO), in person of Dr. Sani Umar congratulates SALCASUN for organizing the event, he mentioned that World Health Organisation have been championing the fight cancer for long time and also they are looking forward to collaborate with the organization in creating more awareness for the prevention of this killer disease (Cervical Cancer) through screening and treating the patients.
Equally, Dr.Nasiru Dantiye who represents the Vice chancellor of Yusuf Maitama Sule University lauds the organization for a gigantic effort; he says that the VC was overwhelmed with a number of achievements recorded so far and urges the organization to widen their scope; he assures them of the university’s moral support if required.
Dr. Hauwa Musa Abdullahi, a staff with Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano who double as a member of Board of Trustees of SALCASUN express her satisfaction with the objectives of the organization as a physician she drive joy in assisting and supporting women in any cause. She maintained that Cervical Cancer is a serious disease globally as 500,000 women are diagnosed yearly in the world and about 14,000 women are diagnosed yearly in Nigeria. Dr. Hauwa continued that women need to know that Cervical Cancer is preventable; it is part of gynecological cancer but most women in Northern Nigeria report late when nothing can be done about it; however, most women have phobia for screening, they don’t want to be diagnosed with the cancer, so there is need for serious education and awareness on cervical cancer especially in villages. She concluded that she is ready at all times to support the organization both financially and morally.
Other special guests who made remark at the occasion includes; Dr. Tijjani Magashi who is the Vice Chair Nigeria Medical Association of Nigeria, Executive Secretary, Kano State Primary Healthcare Board, Dr. Bashir Aliyu Umar who is the chief Imam of Alfurqan Mosque.
In her vote of thanks, the founder of the organization, Hajiya Hauwa Kakudi thanked everybody that graced the occasion and urged that this strategy of launching the elimination of cervical cancer is necessary to save women from the second killer disease as it is preventable.
Due to inability of her Excellency the First lady of Kano State, Professor Hafsat Abdullahi Ganduje to grace the occasion as a result unavoidable circumstances, Hajiya Hauwa invited the representative of executive Secretary, Primary Healthcare Board to cut the Ribbon, which marks the beginning of the launching.
The lighting of monument took place at the Club road Roundabout at around 7pm, the event was well attended and was ended with a photo shoot.
