* Lack of functional centres deplored
Enugu residents, at the weekend, took the campaign for early cancer detection to the streets.
Led by Dr. Amaka Nnamani, a consultant radiologist at the Universi Nigeria Teaching Hospital , Enugu, the cancer walk was to mark Miss Ogechi Atuonwa's death from lymphoma, in her prime last October.
The campaigners marched from Liberty Estate, Independence Layout, through Mkponkiti junction to the adjoining Presidential Road and made a detour at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium.
Speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Nnamani, a cancer advocate with Breast Without Spot Initiative, said the disease knew no age limit.
She said developing countries bore the greatest burden of the disease due to late detection and lack of the right information.
Nnamani added: "Cancer does not spare anybody and does not have bracket. It can occur in young children. "The burden of cancer is more in developing countries because people do not detect it early. They come to hospitals at later stages when doctors and oncologists cannot do much."
She said the surest way to get rid of the disease was to embark on screening.
Dr. Nnamani described the experience as traumatic for the patient, medical personnel and loved ones. "This is why we are preaching screening so that we can get it early for the person to be cured.
"It is necessary for us to change and modify our lifestyles, including the type of food we eat," she said.
Mrs. Maureen Atuonwu, the victim's mother, said: "This cancer awareness is the debt I owe the society, as I will not wish anyone to pass through what my daughter and family passed through.
"Ogechi was a victim of late cancer detection. It was a horrible and traumatic experience for the family. She was in pains till the last day," the woman said.
Atuonwu said it was sad the government was not doing much to combat the disease, adding that there was no support system for cancerpatients.
Said she: "It is disheartening there is no cancer centre in the country. The one in Abuja has been over-grown by weeds. People spend money travelling abroad to get treatment.
"I appeal to the government to set up functional cancer centres in the states or at least in the six geo-political zones. "We have hunian resources, but no facilities to take care of cancer patients. The government needs to help cancer patients."
Source: The Nation News
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