Sam Philip
In a drastic move to stem the damage done to humanity by cervical cancer, Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, has donated N1billion to fight the ailment.
She donated the money to National Cancer Fund on Monday when a delegation of National Task Force on Cervical Cancer Elimination led by the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Adekunle Salako, visited her in her office.
Mrs. Tinubu said: “I am in support of what you are doing. We are on track especially with the approach you have adopted, test, screen, vaccinate and treatment”.
“A healthy nation is a wealthy nation”.
Senator Oluremi Tinubu noted that the fight against cancer can be won if the patients present early and seek medical intervention.
“The theme for World Health Day this year, Healthy Beginnings; Hopeful future, I believe is so apt for what we are doing here today. I believe you said most of my work is 70% in health. A healthy nation is wealthy nation. No matter what wealth you have as a nation, if your population or majority of your population is sick, you are just the poorest as far as I am concerned”.
Meanwhile, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Salako appreciated the support of the First Lady for the introduction of the HPV vaccine into the routine immunisation programme of the country.
He disclosed 12 million girls between ages 9 – 13 have been immunised in the first 9 months of its introduction.