Port Harcourt the Rivers State Capital will soon enter the world map of cities that have ultra-modern cancer treatment center. Briefing Journalist after a one day stakeholders briefing with Christian Ministers including Bishops, Pastors, Head of Churches and Renown Men of God in the State, the National Coordinator of the National Cancer Prevention Programme Dr. Kin J. Egwuonwu stated that Port Harcourt in a couple of months will have the first Cancer Prevention Center in Nigeria.
The event which took place on Monday 19th December 2011 was held at Rachel Hotel, Harbour Road Port Harcourt.
Earlier in his presentation the National Coordinator of the National Cancer Prevention Programme Dr. J. Egwuonwu have told the stakeholders the dangers of Cancer as a killer diseases. Dr. Egwuonwu stated that Nigeria been the 13th poorest country in the world also is the 13th lowest country of life expectancy in the world with 46 years for men and 47 for women respectively .
He said Prostate Cancer kills 14 men every day in Nigeria while Breast Cancer kills 10,000 women in Nigeria every year. The Medical Doctor while commenting on the dangers of ignorance which has been the most dangerous thing behind cancer as a deadly diseases explained that colorectal cancer if discovered on time is curable. The coordinator lamented that Nigerians has lose their great men and women to cancer because of delay in the text. He said of those who died of cancer in Nigeria most of them did not die because of lack of fund but the delay in testing and when they discovered that they are attack it was too late for medical attention to save them.
Dr. Egwuonwu stated that the purpose of the one day meeting was to charge the Christian’s to take up the challenge to inform their members to go for text before it is too late.
He said Christians has the right to be save from diseases, sicknesses and tribulation if they have the knowledge to avert such tribulation. The National Coordinator explains way to avoid cancer which includes diet with fruits and Vegetable, a good exercise and physical activity sexual discipline, screening and vaccination. He charged the men of God to find a way of helping their members of over coming the dangers of cancer by re-prioritizing their programmes, fighting the stigma, and to support the Hosting of the screening centres in Port Harcourt.
The Coordinator who is also a man of God said the Launching of the Port Harcourt Cancer Prevention Centre will be on February 4th 2012 while September 21, 2012 will be the Ground breaking ceremony. He said the choice for choosing Port Harcourt is because of the danger of hydrocarbon which produces cancer and is found in the oil producing communities. When asked if they will collaborate with either the state or Federal Government to realize the dream, He said in India most of the Cancer Centres are own and build by Private, individual and Corporate Organizations. On why Nigeria did not have any Cancer Treatment centre he said “we are not investing much in our people as a country and also due to the mismanagement of our oil fund government fail to put in place these facilities as most Nigerian go to India for the treatment of Cancer.
Earlier, the Chief Host High Chief and Chief (Mrs.) O.B. Lulu- Briggs have thanked the coordinator for the wonderful idea to build such a magnificent and life saving project in Rivers State.
There were questions and answers session and the dedication of the design of the centre by Arch Bishop Ignatius Carthy. The first Phase of the project is to gulp 1.5 Billion Naira while the total cost will be 3 Billion Naira at Completion and appeal to well meaning individual, cooperate organizations and philanthropist to help in making the dream a reality.
Pius Dukor &
Mene Gbarabe
