The wife of the Kwara Governor, Amb. Olufolake AbdulRazaq, has called for sustained efforts to raise awareness on ovarian cancer, promote early presentation and improve access to timely diagnosis and treatment.
AbdulRazaq made the call at an ovarian cancer sensitisation and awareness programme organised on Sunday in Ilorin.
She said the programme was aimed at encouraging women and healthcare stakeholders to recognise the disease early and improve treatment outcomes.
AbdulRazaq, who is the founder of the Ajike People Support Centre, noted that the sensitisation campaign involved Edo, Borno and Kano State, with Kwara taking the lead in the awareness event.
She stated that ovarian cancer accounts for about five per cent of deaths in Nigeria.
AbdulRazaq, who is also the Chairperson of the Nigerian Governors’ Spouses Forum, emphasised the importance of recognising possible signs and understanding risk factors as key measures that could help improve outcomes.
She urged women not to ignore persistent or unusual symptoms, advising them to visit healthcare centres whenever the need arises.
“Etimates from the Global Cancer Observatory for 2024 shows about 3,687 women in Nigeria were diagnosed with ovarian cancer, while 2,605 died from the disease.
“These figures underscore the need for a coordinated response to delays in cancer care through increased awareness, early recognition, appropriate referral, treatment and palliative care.
Speaking, the Commissioner for Health, Dr Amina El-Imam commended the wife of the governor for her commitment to women and family health.
El-Imam said the state government has invested in healthcare through the revitalisation of primary healthcare facilities and provision of equipment to secondary and tertiary institutions.
She cited the ongoing development of the Abdulsalam Rabiu Oncology Centre through the ASR Foundation and planned state-of-the-art diagnostic services at the Civil Service Hospital as part of efforts to strengthen cancer diagnosis and treatment.
Also speaking, Dr Olubunmi Jetawo-Winter of the Kwara Health Insurance Scheme said the scheme had more than 100 healthcare providers on its network and have served over 200,000 beneficiaries.
She stressed that awareness must be matched with access to affordable and quality healthcare, including preventive screening, timely diagnosis and appropriate treatment.
Prof. Kike Adesina, representing the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (NICRAT), urged women to pay attention to persistent abdominal bloating or swelling, pelvic or abdominal pain, early satiety and unusual changes in bowel or urinary habits.
She said awareness should translate into early presentation, timely referral and access to appropriate care.
Prof. Adegboyega Fawole, a Gynaecologist at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH), similarly urged women to promptly report unusual or persistent changes in their bodies to healthcare professionals.
In her presentation, Dr Idowu Ogunlaja of the Kwara State University Teaching Hospital (KWASUTH) warned against late presentation, citing the case of a 54-year-old mother of three who experienced abdominal fullness, bloating, early satiety and lower abdominal discomfort.
Ogunlaja said the woman initially attributed the symptoms to less serious conditions and later presented at a tertiary facility, where she was diagnosed with advanced ovarian cancer.
She said the cancer was found to be non-resectable during surgery and the woman subsequently died after being placed on palliative care.
Ogunlaja described ovarian cancer as a disease that often “whispers” because its early symptoms could be subtle.
She urged women not to ignore persistent changes in their bodies and called for the involvement of men, religious and traditional leaders in encouraging women to seek appropriate medical care.(NAN))
