Nigeria’s First Lady Remi Tinubu Unites With African First Ladies To Combat-Cancer (Details)

Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has joined forces with her counterparts across Africa in a unified effort to combat cancer within the region. Hosting the third Regional Seminar on Cancer Awareness in Abuja, Mrs. Tinubu welcomed First Ladies from various African nations to enhance cancer prevention and treatment initiatives….CONTINUE READING

The gathering saw the First Ladies emphasize the importance of early detection and treatment to tackle the disease effectively. In a united declaration, they affirmed their commitment to fighting cancer, with a particular focus on breast and cervical cancer, which predominantly affect women on the continent.

Representatives from member-states of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) attended the seminar to exchange knowledge and pool resources. Senator Tinubu, in her address, stressed the urgent need to reverse the alarming cancer rates in Nigeria, citing recent statistics that reported 127,763 new cases and 79,542 deaths over the past year.

Senator Tinubu highlighted her husband’s, President Bola Tinubu, active involvement in cancer diagnostic and treatment efforts, while she leads advocacy for innovative prevention and early detection strategies. She expressed her commitment to reducing late-stage cancer diagnoses to improve treatment outcomes.

“My major interest is to reduce the prevalence of late presentation in order to improve treatment outcomes. Reports from various cancer registries in the country, corroborated by Globocan Data, showed 127,763 new cancer cases and 79,542 deaths within the year. Also, the prevalent cases of cancer over five years in the country stood at 269,109,” said Senator Tinubu.

She further emphasized that cervical cancer, the second most common cancer among women in Nigeria, is preventable and curable when detected early. This has led her to champion preventive measures and early detection approaches for all preventable and curable cancers in Nigeria.

In a separate statement via her official X handle, Mrs. Tinubu expressed her gratitude for the presence of First Ladies from countries including Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Gambia, Burundi, Gabon, Ghana, and representatives from Uganda and Congo. They joined her and President Tinubu to launch the #WeAreEqual Campaign in Nigeria, an initiative by the Organisation of African First Ladies for Development (OAFLAD) to promote gender equality.

The campaign is anchored on education, specifically introducing the Alternative High School for Girls, which aims to provide educational opportunities for girls who dropped out of school due to pregnancy, financial constraints, and other issues.

The seminar also featured significant contributions from Rt Hon Dr Tajudeen Abbas, Speaker of the House of Representatives, who underscored the necessity of enacting a National Cancer Act. He expressed optimism that with the First Ladies leading the advocacy, positive outcomes are achievable.

First Lady of Turkey, Emine Erdogan, called on Africans to promote healthy dietary systems and utilize their abundant medicinal resources. First Ladies from OIC African member-states, including Sierra Leone, The Gambia, and the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, presented reports on cancer management in their countries, stressing the importance of alliances and raising awareness.

Concluding the seminar, Senator Oluremi Tinubu issued the Abuja Declaration, signed by the attending First Ladies. The Declaration includes resolutions for improved funding, increased advocacy, and enhanced collaboration among member states, marking a significant step forward in the fight against cancer in Africa.

Published By: Destiny.Jnr