Walk-away Cancer

WORLD CANCER DAY CELEBRATION LAFIA: UNITED BY UNIQUE – UNITED TO FIGHT CANCER IN NASARAWA STATE

 The Leukaemia CarePlus Initiative (LCPI) initiated and collaborated with the Cancer Awareness and Prevention Committee of the Nigerian Medical Association Nasarawa State Chapter, the Nigerian Cancer Society, Nasarawa state chapter and the Office of the First Lady of Nasarawa State to organize the 2025 World Cancer Day activities in Nasarawa state, North Central, Nigeria with the theme United By Unique: United to Fight Cancer in Nasarawa state

The Activities began on the 28th of January, 2025 with advocacy visits to the office of Permanent Secretary, State Ministry of Health Lafia, the Executive Secretary, Nasarawa state Primary Health Care development Agency (NSPHCDA), the Executive Secretary, Nasarawa state Health Insurance Agency (NASHIA) and the Chief Medical Director, Federal University Teaching Hospital (FUTH Lafia) and the Office of the First Lady of Nasarawa state to converse for their support for the program of creating awareness about cancer in the state and specifically create the policies and programs to support early detection of cancer and those living with the condition in the state. 

The program planned was to organize, the first Walk-Away cancer rally in the state capital of Lafia and offer free cervical cancer (PAP) screening and manual breast examination for women in Nasarawa state. 

We also planned to organize a World Cancer day symposium for Healthcare workers and members of the public focused on cancer awareness, prevention, and treatment options. This event will bring together healthcare professionals, patients, caregivers and the general public to discuss the challenges faced by cancer patients, the latest advancements in cancer treatment, and how communities can work together to provide support. Unfortunately this program could not hold due to funding issues.  

The 5km walk-away cancer rally was led by the Vice President of the Nigerian Cancer Society (NCS) and the Executive Director, Leukaemia CarePlus Initiative, Dr Chi-Kadibia Ukoma KSJI with the First lady Nasarawa state (Her Excellency Hajiya Silifat Abdullahi Sule), the Chief Medical Director, Federal University Teaching Hospital Lafia (FUTH LAFIA), Dr Hassan Ikraama, The Executive Secretary, Nasarawa State Health Insurance Agency (NASHIA) Dr Yahaya Ubam, the Vice Chairman, Nigerian Medical Association, Narawa state chapter, Dr, Micheal Anazodo, the Chairman, Nigerian Cancer Society, Dr Peter achara and the president medical women association of Nigeria, Nasarawa state chapter, Dr Esther Audu, the WHO Nasarawa team and the oncology nurses of FMC, the student Nurses from the State school of Nursing and midwifery and other cancer advocates and members of the public were all present in the walk. 

The entire team including member and volunteers of Leukaemia CarePlus Initiative led by Mr Muhammad, members of the Nigeria Medical Association Nasarawa Chapter and the medical team of Federal University Teaching Hospital, students of school of Nursing and Midwifery, and some members of the public assembled at the Lafia Modern Market at 8am on Tuesday morning. T shirt and Caps were distributed to those present. 

The rally started with some aerobics exercise and after which we begin the walk with the student of the school nursing holding the banner ahead of the people followed by Dj who was playing the music and the rest of the people followed while dancing.

The team passed through the Lafia Modern Market with awareness talks about cancer and its prevention including available vaccines and screening methods given by the Vice Chairman of NMA Nasarawa state Dr Anazodo in English Dr Esther Audu of the member of medical women association of Nigeria gave hausa language version for better understanding of those around in the market as we walk through. Intermittently bottled water were distributed along the walk to mitigate dehydration.  

At the School of Nursing and Midwifery ground, The CMD FUTH Lafia welcomed everyone present, he was very happy and pleased with everything and thank the ED of Leukaemia CarePlus Initiative and his team for organizing such a great event, the first ever in the history of Nasarawa state. He also emphasized on the importance of creating more awareness and early detention for cancer and its treatment. He appreciated everyone for participating in the event. 

The First Lady of Nasarawa State, her excellency also gave her speech encouraging the people to avail themselves for the free screening that is being offer to them and she stated that the state government are in full support of them the team working towards eliminating cancer in the state. She was very pleased and happy with the coordinator of the World Cancer Day events in Lafia. Thereafter the in the person of Dr Chi-Kadibia Ukoma, Founder/Executive Director of Leukaemia CarePlus Initiative (LCPI), and the Vice president of the Nigeria Cancer Society (NCS) gave his speech, he welcome Her Excellency, the First Lady of Nasarawa state to the event and expressed his gratitude for her supports and honoring the invitation to be present with us on the world cancer day celebration and her support for the free cancer screening which was generated through her office. He also appreciated everyone who participated in the walk, particularly the students of the School of Nursing and Midwifery and their management for their support in providing the venue for the event. He spoke on the heavy burden cancer imposes of patients and their families and conversed for the support of government and institution to burden lighter on the patients. He also stressed the importance of going regular medical examinations and cancer screening, because early detention and treatment saves life. He state that free wellness and medical screening will commence immediately after the rally here at the venue while free Cervical cancer (PAP Smear) screening will be taking place the Cancer Screening Center of the hospital at the Public Health Department Temako as well as at the Federal Medical Centre Keffi

Thereafter, Nrs Eunice Jegede, an oncology nurse at the FMC Keffi and the Interim Secretary of the Nigerian cancer Society Nasarawa State, gave a demonstration for self-breast examination to those present at the rally. The students of the school Nursing and midwifery were then made to also demonstrate at act to the delight of those present. She also emphasis on regular screening for cervical cancer as it is very vital for early detention and treatment. 

In Keffi, the World cancer Day walk-away cancer rally was led by Nrs Murna Ali, the Head of Oncology unit of FMC Keffi with Nrs Jecinta Ukoma, a Director with Leukaema CarePlus Initiative and other volunteers of Leukaemia CarePlus Initiative, member of Nigeria Cancer Society Nasarawa state in Keffi, members of oncology nurses FMC Keffi and student of School of Health Technology Keffi were in also in attendance. T shirt and caps which were provided by Leukaemia CarePlus Initiative were disturbed to the participants present. 

The Medical Director and the management team of the Federal Medical Centre Keffi was represented by the Head of Administration, Mr Tony Ayaka. He apologized on behalf of the Medical Director, who was unavoidably absent and attending to some very important and crucial official matters. He brought warm greetings from the Medical Director and the management of FMC keffi. In his speech he noted Cancer is one of the world deadliest diseases, although curable. He said the most important thing is early detection through screening and early diagnosis and with appropriate treatment a cure is possible. He appreciated the group for celebrating the world cancer day with the awareness walk, stating that the activities you are doing is part of creating awareness to let people know what is expected of them, which is for them to go for screening and if you have (cancer), then its can be detected early enough for curative treatment. He also advice the staff members of FMC to avail themselves to this opportunity and go for cancer screening in order to avoid any complication. So behalf of the management, he thanked everyone present and especially the team who organized the world cancer day and offer them his best wishes. 

The walk away cancer rally started from the cancer unit of Federal Medical Center (FMC) Keffi, and special visit was paid to some of the investors like Ben-Jonalson Pharmacy, Sky lark Pharmacy and stores, and Digitech Medical Radiological Services that offered 50% discount for Mammography and Prostate scan to celebrate the World Cancer day. They all appreciated and welcomed the team and offered goodwill messages, after which they walk back to the Federal Medical Centre.

For the free screening on hepatitis (HCV) and blood Pressure assessment, A total of 73 (67 Female and 6 male) person were screened for Hepatitis in Lafia using rapid test kit. One female volunteer showed a positive reactive test and she was subsequently counselled and referred to the Endocrinology unit of FUTH Lafia for further evaluation. At the Federal University Teaching Hospital, Over 100 women presented themselves for the Free Cervical Screening in Lafia but only 71 women could be captured due to inadequate funding. While at the Federal Medical Centre Keffi where Visual Inspection with Acetic Acid (VIA) was done, 22 women were tested with 8 with positive results were referred for PAP test for further evaluation.

At the Nasarawa state Ministry of Health Lafia, a Press Conference was addressed by the Permanent Secretary, Dr Damina John Ali give an over overview of the activities of the state government on the cancer space and the their plans for the next one year including plans to create a Desk office for cancer in the Ministry and working with the Nigerian Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (NICRAT) to set a population based cancer Registry in the state.  The Founder/E.D of Leukaemia CarePlus Initiative (LCPI) and VP NCS, Dr Chi-Kadibia Ukoma also addressed the press calling on the state Government to pay more attention to cancer prevention and screening in the state and also urged for the production of a cancer policy in the state as has been done by the Federal Government