Lagos state Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, yesterday counselled victims of breast cancer not to see the disease as death sentence but rather embrace early medical solution to overcome it. Ambode, who said this while receiving the wife of Ondo state Governor, Mrs. Betty Akeredolu, at Lagos House, Ikeja, on courtesy visit with members of the Breast Cancer Association of Nigeria (BRECAN), said it was time for people to see solution to the disease from medical point of view and not only view it from spiritual or cultural points.
He said: “Th is is more about the people at the lower level. People talk so much about spiritual issue on cancer. Yes, there is spiritualism but again there is common sense. Th is is obviously more about common sense and we don’t want to continue to lose our people. “On our part as government, we will do more of public enlightenment, we will do more of advocacy and whatever it is that the association is doing, I want to be put in the front burner because I want to be a partner in this.
I believe that anybody having good health, there is hope for good life and that is the way we should treat every citizen that we come across in the course of our duty.” “I say this not because you are a survivor but because you are a proud one at that and also trying to send a message that breast cancer is not a death sentence.
Twenty years after surviving it, you are seated here and we are propagating something that we should also sell to all Nigerians. Earlier, Mrs Akeredolu said she was at Lagos House to introduce BRECAN to the governor as part of activities marking the formal launch of the Lagos state chapter of the association on Friday, as well as seek the support and partnership of the state government to jointly tackle cancer in the country.
“People now misconstrue the issue of breast cancer to be a cultural issue or spiritual attack and so they resort to prayer centres. But the truth is that breast cancer is a medical issue. Early detection and care is key. If you notice any unusual change in your breast, go for check-up and not prayer centres,” she said.
