No fewer than 15,000 women are expected to benefit from a free cancer screening programme by the Oyo State Government.
The programme is designed to reduce the prevalence of breast and cervical cancer among women in the state to a minimal level.
The government said that the free screening was a collaborative effort of the Oyo State Ministry of Health, the local government councils across the state and the Access to Basic Care Foundation, a non-governmental organisation founded by the wife of the state Governor, Mrs. Florence Ajimobi.
The government explained that the exercise would be provided for 500 women in each of the 33 local councils and their Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) for the next six weeks.
Speaking at the flag off of the free screening exercise at Kisi, the headquarters of Irepo Local Government, Mrs. Ajimobi stated that the state government was committed to reduce the prevalence of breast and cervical cancer.
She noted that the screening exercise would also serve as human capacity building for nurses in the state who were responsible for cancer screening.
Mrs Ajimobi, who was represented at the event by Dr. Sola Oriniowo from Access to Basic Medical Care Foundation said that the screening was part of the action plan of Oyo State for the Control of Cancer.
The wife of the governor promised that those found with any symptom of either breast or cervical cancer would be provided with treatment and support in Ibadan free of charge under the collaborative programme.
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In his message at the occasion, the State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Azeez Adeduntan said the government was concerned by the increasing cases of cancer nowadays, stressing that, the Ministry of Health was leaving no stone unturned to reduce the ugly trend.
Dr. Adeduntan, who was represented by Dr. Olabode Ladipo, said that the programme would be carried out in all the local governments across the state, promising that cancer screening would be extended to the men folk next year as a means of reducing the scourge of cancer in the state.
