Nigeria Army Officers Wives Association Hold Awareness Summit in Abuja in Marking World Cancer Day

As the World marked World Cancer Day, the Nigerian Army Officers Wives Association (NAOWA) joined the global community in raising awareness and advocating for accessible health care for cancer patients. 

'Reducing the Scourge of Cancer in Nigeria' was the theme chosen by the association for this year's cancer awareness. 

The Chief of Administration Army, Major General Jimmy Akpor, who was the Special Guest of Honour at the event expressed confidence that Nigeria is on the right path to achieving the objective of the theme of World Cancer Day "Closing the Care Gap". 

This global theme he said is aimed at identifying and addressing the barriers that exist for many people around the world in accessing the care they need. 

Major General Jimmy Akpor was speaking at the Nigerian Army Officers Wives Association (NAOWA) World Cancer Day Awareness Summit held at the Army Headquarters Command Officers Mess, Abuja Nigeria's Capital. 

He said the burden of cancer in Nigeria and by extension amongst Nigerian Army Personnel and families is huge, there is therefore need to identify the barriers in the Baracks that prevent the families of personnel from accessing the regular screening through the over one hundred and twenty Nigerian Army health care facilities spread across the country. 

The President of NAOWA, Mrs. Mariya Lagbaja decries the lack of awareness which she stressed has prevented many people from seeking early diagnosis and prompt treatment. 

This she said calls for action and is a testament to the devastating global effect of cancer highlighting the need to bridge the gap in cancer management inorder to prevent further death and disability. 

"Our purpose is to raise awareness avocate for quality healthcare access and to celebrate ghe successes made in combating this disease"

Mrs. Lagbaja said it is important to ensure that everyone regardless background and financial status is equipped with the necessary knowledge on early diagnosis of cancer.

The President and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Cancer Society, Dr Adamu Umar, in a remark said NAOWA can take cancer awareness further having advantage of wide reach. He equally advocated for cancer screening centres accross all formations of the Nigerian Army.

The even also featured lectures by selected medical experts, pannel discussions, questions and answer segment and testimony of cancer survivor. 

World Cancer Day is an international day marked on 4 February to raise awareness of cancer and to encourage its prevention, detection, and treatment. World Cancer Day is led by the Union for International Cancer Control to support the goals of the World Cancer Declaration, written of 2008