Mrs. Otti Presenting the Cheque to one of the cancer patients in Umuahia 

In commemoration of the 2024 Cancer Awareness day, the wife of the Governor of Abia State, Mrs. Priscilla Chidinma Otti has donated the sum of 10 million Naira to three cancer patients - Ola Mba, Ndukwe Onyinye, and Odochimere Nwokoma to aid their medical treatment. 

The Abia first lady while presenting the cheque to one of the patients after a cancer awareness walk in Umuahia, described cancer as a silent killer that must be stopped through aggressive awareness campaigns and early detection to prevention further spread of the disease.

Mrs. Otti pointed that the donation is to help reduce the huge financial burden for the patients in seeking medical treatment, and assist to improve their chances of recovery. 

According to her, "Across Nigeria, nearly 28,000 cases of breast cancer and 14,000 new cases of cervical cancer are diagnosed annually. Among men, there is an alarming rise in prostate and colon cancer cases".

She maintained that breast cancer can be cured if detected early, while cervical cancer is almost preventable through regular screening and HPV vaccination. 

Mrs. Otti announced free Mammograms and Pap Smear screenings for 50 participants randomly selected, and added that this initiative complements Governor Alex Otti's giant strides in the healthcare sector. 

In his address, the Commissioner for Health,   Professor Enoch Uche reiterated that the event was packaged to draw the attention of the citizens to the need to become active participants in the fight to eliminate cancer from the society. 

He further revealed that statistics has shown that one in five people will develop cancer, one in eight women and one in nine men will die from cancer, while it is estimated that the rate of cancer would increase to over 80% in 15 years.

Keynote Speaker Professor Rosemary Ogu

The Keynote Speaker and the National President of  Medical Women Association of Nigeria(MWAN), Professor Rosemary Ogu in her presentation described cervical cancer as the 4th commonest cancer in women caused by Human Papiloma Virus, which is 100% preventable. 

She related the dominant cases of cervical cancer in women age 15-44, to poor health-seeking behaviour of the citizenry, and applauded the inclusion of HPV vaccine in the National Immunization programme which serves as effective  strategy for prevention of cervical cancer and the mortality arising from the disease. 

The  event which was attended by traditional rulers and top government officials, featured testimonial from a cervical cancer survivor, and free cancer screening.