Invite Nigerians to seek help on medical issues
Deji Elumoye in Abuja
The president’s wife, Sen. Orlemi Tinubu, contributed N1 billion yesterday to support the federal government’s fight against cervical cancer.
She also called for Nigerians, especially women, to speak up and seek appropriate help whenever they face medical challenges.
While playing the host of the delegation of the National Task Force on the Elimination of Cervical Cancer, led by the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Mrs. Tinubu pointed out that no one has chosen the illness herself and there is no need to be embarrassed to ask for help.
“I support what you’re doing. We’re on track, especially with the approach you’ve adopted, testing, screening, vaccination and treatment. Healthy countries are wealthy countries.”
The first lady pointed out that if a patient enters early and seeks medical intervention, the battle against cancer can be won.
She said: “I think this year’s World Health Day theme, a healthy beginning, a hopeful future, it’s very suitable for what we’re doing here today. I think I said most of my work is 70% healthy.
“A healthy country is a wealthy country. No matter what wealth you have as a country, if your population or the majority of your population is sick, you are just the poorest I’m worried about.”
On behalf of her pet project, First Lady has donated N1 billion to the National Cancer Fund to combat the tragedy of cervical cancer in Nigeria.
Sign up for the AllAfrica newsletter for free
Get the latest African news
success!
Almost finished…
You need to check your email address.
Follow the instructions in the email you sent to complete the process.
error!
There was a problem processing the submission. Please try again later.
Earlier in his remarks, Sarako’s Minister of Health and Social Welfare pointed out the effectiveness of lending her voice to the introduction of the HPV vaccine to introduce her voice to the country’s daily vaccination programme.
He said this has been translated in the ministry and could exempt girls between the ages of nine and 13 in the first nine months of its implementation.
Sarako said the ministry hopes to vaccinate six million girls this year.
Also, Professor Isac Adeworle, Chair of the Task Force on the Elimination of Cervical Cancer and former Minister of Health, stressed that Mrs. Tinubu showed a rare political will by supporting and flagging the introduction of the HPV vaccine to the country’s regular vaccination programme.
He said eight targets to eliminate neck cancer (prevent 8 million girls each year) will be achieved by 2030 if First Lady lends her voice and joins the campaign that will pass through 12 states next year.
On his part, Dr. Walter Mrombo, the representative of the World Health Organization (WHO) country, appealed to the First Lady to lead the campaign, pointing out that all children and women have the right to live.
The Task Force’s visit to Madame Tinubu on the Elimination of Cervical Cancer, coinciding with the 2025 World Health Day commemoration, “The Beginning of Heati, A Hopeful Future,” presented a souvenir from the World Health Organization (WHO).
