The Nigerian government has been advised to join forces together with non governmental organisations to address cancer challenges in the country.
Former Nigerian President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, made the call at the 28th Annual LAPO Development Forum, 2021, in Abuja.
He said that as more stakeholders key into the initiative there will be an uptick in awareness and pooling of resources to effectively manage and treat cancer.
He noted that such a strategic awareness campaign will also go a long way towards eliminating the fear and misconceptions people generally have that cancer is a death sentence.
The former president who was the Chairman of the occasion, also said that through its annual development forum which focuses on different aspects of social and economic life, LAPO has continued to contribute its own quota towards the development of the society.
Dr. Johnathan also said that the African continent bears a heavy burden of cancer, with a significantly high mortality rate.
He commended the management and members of staff of LAPO for their resilience and sense of innovation which have sustained the organisation’s operation for about three decades.
He also stressed that LAPO Community Campaign for Cancer Control (LAPO C4) was born out of the need to galvanize people and resources around the critical issue of early detection of cancer as well as its proper management and treatment
The Nigerian Minister of Health Dr. Osagie Ehanire, advised Nigerians to begin to look into the flora and souna available in the country for the treatment of Cancer.
He also said that the fight against Cancer requires a collective approach of all stakeholders. The minister commended LAPO-C4 for contributing to Nigeria Cancer awareness plan.
In his Keynote address titled ” promoting Community Based Cancer Control Programmme in Nigeria: The LAPO-C4 Initiative”, the Guest Speaker, Prof. Omokhoa Adeleye, urged Nigerians to avoid the risk factors that lead to cancer.
He said that exercising, avoiding smoking, avoiding multiple sex partners and avoiding alcohol are the main factors that can prevent Cancer.
The Founder of LAPO, Dr. Godwin Ehigiamusoe, said that the Annual LAPO Development Forum was initiated in 1994 to create a platform to address development issues and challenges which many Nigerians contend with, with a view to proffer innovative and practicable solutions to them.
The theme of the 28th Annual LAPO Development Forum 2021 is ‘Promoting Community Based Cancer Control Programme in Nigeria: The LAPO-C4 Initiative’ and it focused on a critical area of concern to the well-being of Nigerian citizens, which is Cancer
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