22.7m persons benefit from Lapo-cancer programme in one year
No fewer than 22,709,327 million Nigerians benefited from LAPO Community Campaign for Cancer Control (LAPO-C4) project in four states of the federation including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja between November 2016 and October 2017.
Sabina Idowu-Osehobo, Executive Director, LAPO, who gave the hint during the midterm review meeting with partner Community Based Organizations (CBOs) on Wednesday in Benin-City said a total of 51,260,875 million persons were targeted for the period under review.
Osehobo said the Programme is being implemented in Edo, Imo, Lagos, Rivers and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
She said 21,948,000 million persons made up of 11,221,600million male and 10,726,400 million female benefitted from media awareness creation out of the targeted 50,620,796 million, 741,763 made up 238,849 male and 502,914 female out of the projected 640,079 community members were reached directly in the period under review.
She added that a total of 10,262 persons comprises of 1,267 male and 8,995 female out of the projected 4,686 persons benefitted from screening, 9,106 made up of 1,498 male and 7,608 out of the targeted 14,597 were referred for screening, 196 made up of 11 male and 185 female were referred for treatment in reputable hospitals while a total of 531,871 information, education and enlightenment materials were distributed to persons in the operational states.
The executive director of the organisation, however gave the breakdown of state by state performance in the period to include, FCT, 200,662 persons, Lagos, 115,709 beneficiaries, Imo, 563,134 persons, Rivers, 137,428 persons, Edo, 286, 147 persons and the headquarters of the organisation, 21,948,000 million respectively.
Osehobo noted that the LAPO-C4 project was aimed at achieving its mission of improving the lives of the poor and disadvantaged populations as well as reduction of cancer-related deaths among the general population.
She explained that the organization was partnering with 13 Community Based Organizations (CBOs) to carry out the cancer campaign programme.
She further stated that the organization was establishing and building the capacity of Community Committee for Cancer Control (4) to continue with the project activities after the disengagement of LAPO, noting that 18 community committees have been formed with plans to strengthen their capacity for effective service delivery in 2018.
Osehobo, however attributed lack of basic cancer screening facilities in primary health centres and high cost of pre-malignant surgery as the major challenges militating against the fight against cancer in the country.
IDRIS UMAR MOMOH, Benin