LAPO screens 17.9 million women, others for cancer ailments

As a part of the efforts to improve the health conditions of rural dwellers, the management of Lift Above Poverty Organization (LAPO) said a total of 17,896,311 million persons were screened for cancer ailments between January and July, 2017.

The health programme includes awareness creation, screening, and referral services was designed to assist community members detect cancer early and respond to the challenges through prompt preventive treatment.

The Executive Director of LAPO, Sabina Idowu- Osehobo gave the hint in Benin-City and said the organization was at the moment implementing a two-year Community Campaign for Cancer Control (LAPO-C4) project in Lagos, Imo, Abuja, Rivers and Edo State.

Osehobo explained that the LAPO-C4 was aimed at reducing cancer- related deaths in Nigeria with focus on prevention and early detection.

The LAPO Executive- Director who also added that the project was aimed at mitigating the health and socio-economic implications, advised women to ascertain their health status regularly as breast and cervical cancers poses a serious threat to their lives.

She also explained that a total of 93,289 community members were screened for tropical diseases in the period under review.

While noting that early detection of health conditions can be life-saving, she explained that many people have succumbed to preventable ailments due to ignorance and negligence.

Osehobo, explained that those with special cases were referred to health centres for treatment, observing that health counselling and testing have always been a major component of LAPO’s intervention programme.

She encouraged pregnant women to demand Intermittent Prevent Treatment (IPT) of malaria twice during pregnancy and thrice in special cases as well as obtain free anti-malaria drugs nets at designated public health facilities.

She however advised women and rural dwellers to avoid self-medication and other forms of drug misuse and revealed that rural dwellers are more vulnerable to diseases due to ignorance and unhealthy living practices.

She also expressed LAPO‘s commitment to the prevention and management of tropical diseases.

IDRIS UMAR MOMOH, Benin