Womenhood Foundation tasks mothers to engage young girls on health talks
//Eddy Akon, Kaduna Northwest Nigeria//
As the world marks Cancer Day, Chairperson, Womenhood Foundation of Nigeria and Proprietor, School of Health Sciences, Kaduna, Hajiya Maryam Abubakar, has called on mothers to give their girl-child health talks at home to help prevent spread of cervical cancer.
Hajia Abubakar who made the call while speaking to the press at a rally to commemorate the World Cancer Day in Kaduna today stated that, one of the causes of cervical cancer in women is multiple sex partners and early exposure to sex on part of the younger ones.
Hajiya Maryam Abubakar advised the women to regularly carry out Breast checks and if anything suspicious is found in them should consult a doctor; adding that prevention is better than cure.
“Nobody can tell who is who, but when a woman sticks to just a partner it reduces the prevalence of cervical cancer”.
Regarding early exposure to sex, the Chairperson of Womenhood Foundation of Nigeria, said it is due to the fact that younger women reproductive system and hips are not fully matured for sex at a tender age, hence will result to cervical cancer.
According to her, the theme of this year’s programme is, “You can, I can, We All can” is to say you can prevent cancer, I can prevent cancer and All of us can prevent cancer.
“Today is world Cancer Day and the School of Health Sciences Kaduna is on a rally to sensitize and enlighten the general public on the dangers of cancer generally, chief amongst which are the Breast and cervical cancers. That’s why we’re on Red and Blue colour apparels. The Red colour signifies danger of cancer while the Blue colour stands for the treatment.
“What we’re saying is that an individual can prevent cancer by sensitizing and enlightening someone on the ailment. This is what the School of Health Sciences, Kaduna, is doing by enlightening members of the public about the dangers of cancer and its prevention through this rally tagged: Endurance Trek.
“That someone is diagnosed to have cancer does not mean end of the world for that person, but we say it’s the beginning of life, because cancer can be prevented and treated. That’s the motivation to tell everyone.
“One method of detecting cancer early is to know the size of your breast, and each day through a gentle massage of the breast looking out for lump. So once you discover change in size of breast and colour of your nipples and a lump you should quickly see your doctor for further checkup.
“I want to call the general public both the women and men because cancer doesn’t affect women only to rise and fight against this Hydra headed monster called cancer.
“Women should remain faithful to their partners as this will help curb cervical cancer; as well as parents, mother’s in particular should give their children health talks at home, let them know that cervical cancer is deadly and can kill easily, “she admonished.