By Abubakar Sadiq
The event which took place on Saturday, 1st October 2022 at Muhammad Ali Garko Hall, Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano, started with a remark by the project manager, Save a Life Cancer Awareness & Support Network (SALCASUN) Hajiya Rahana Adamu Kakudi, she welcomed the participants, she further mentioned that they are collaborating with Trust Africa, an NGO which normally works on Democracy and Civil Society based equitable development and Africa philanthropy; so they fund projects that are specifically for Africa in order to create solutions. Kakudi added that the purpose of the dialogue is to educate the participants on Covid – 19, Financil Literacy, Breast and Cervical Cancer to rural women in the communities.
The project manager continued and presents and overview of Covid – 19, the history, issues and problems that came about as a result of the disease, which include economic and financial crisis, lockdown issues, health challenges, poverty, educational challenge and etc. However, to acertain the understanding of the participqnts an exercise was conducted, and the result shows greater understanding of the topic by the participants.
Dr. Nafisa and Dr. Maryam in their presentations on Cervical and Breast Cancer respectively, talked extensively about the history of Breast Cancer, what causes it, what are the symptoms and possible medication. She stress more about the women that have high risks of getting cancer; i.e those that didn’t got married in time; those that don’t breast feed their babies and the rest. She added that cervical cancer is detectable, preventable and treatable; Dr. Aisha urge women to go for screening every 3 years and women should always go to the hospitals when they experience ices in their private part. A number of participants enjoys that there is need for massive sensitization and awareness programmes in core rural areas to encourage women to go for screening for early detection.
Dr. Tijjani Magashi a consultant with Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, presents the impact of Covid – 19 on our health, he mentioned that Covid-19 caught the whole world unaware that is the reason why alot of people suffer, he added that Covid-19 affected people with an existing illness the more because of their low immunity. Dr. Magashi further stress the importance of vaccination as it protects the possibility of getting the disease.
In her address, the founder of Save a life Cancer Awareness & Support Network (SALCASUN) Hajiya Hauwa Kakudi mentioned about how they came to being as well as some of the fast activities they had with regards to creating awareness on breast and cervical cancer, she added that in collaboration with Community Health Research Initiative (CHR) they have establish a cancer trust fund, in which now they have about 2 million Naira in their account; they are registering cancer patients who are less privileged into NHIS programme to support them. She further mentioned that women from about 5 LGAs were invited to participate in the programme, namely Rogo, Sumaila, Wudil, Bichi and Dala. Finally she prays for safe return back home to all the participants.
