Rev. Canon Dr. Kin J. Egwuonwu, the lead Servant/Coordinator, Port Harcourt Cancer Centre, PHCC, has given reasons for choosing Port Harcourt the Rivers State capital for the location of the cancer centre.
Speaking during the formal launching of PHCC at the Alfred Diette Spiff Civic Centre in Port Harcourt, Rev. Canon Egwuonwu said Port Harcourt was chosen as its location due to the United Nation’s, UN, Environment programme report in 2011 and that environmental hazard of the south-south region which Rivers State is one, has a greater contact with cancer-causing pollutants.
Rev. Canon Egwuonwu further stated that Port Harcourt was chosen because Rivers State has a hydro carbon based economy.
The coordinator who is also one of the BOT of the Port Harcourt cancer centre committee, recalled the suffering of many Nigerians as a result of cancer, noting that many Nigerians have been amputated and that ten Nigerians die of cancer every hour while eighty 80,000 Nigerians die as a result of cancer annually. He stressed that they were in Port Harcourt to transform the country and restore hope of Nigerians who were suffering from cancer diseases.
Rev. Canon Egwuonwu frowned at Nigeria’s inability to have enough cancer centres, with many states having none. He revealed that Nigerians spend more money in external than internal for the treatment of cancer and other diseases, pointing out that India has 180 cancer centres. He added that the establishment of PHCC would cost 63 million dollars and enjoined the public to assist to actualize their target.
Earlier in his speech, Barr. O.C.J Okocha, (SAN) JP., who chaired the occasion, introduced all the BOT members of the cancer centre and described Rev. Canon J. Egwuonwu as one who has acquired great knowledge in the cure of cancer.
OCJ Okocha who is also a member of the BOT, described cancer as the greatest killer in human history, stressing that many has suffered and died as a result of cancer and appealed to the public to partner with them to actualize the establishment of the centre.
Also in his speech, King Alfred Diete Spiff, the first military governor of the Old Rivers State, described cancer as the most fearful disease.
King Diete Spiff, who is the Amanyanabo of Twon Brass, identified cigarette smoking and alcoholic drinking as things that cause cancer and advised Nigerians to avoid them to reduce cancer patients.
In his contribution, Apostle Zilly Aggrey, the General Overseer of Royal House of Grace and the chairman of PFN, CAN, in Rivers State, described the establishment of the cancer centre in Rivers as a good vision and promised to discuss the matter with PFN and CAN members, assuring that he would encourage the vision and ask for more prayers for God to touch the hearts of all the 36 governors of the state and president Goodluck Jonathan to donate 63million dollars required for the establishment of the Port Harcourt cancer centre.
In his speech, Barr. Seraki Dickson, the governor of Bayelsa state, represented by Mrs. Gloria E. the Head of Service, Bayelsa State, described cancer as a major issue, commended the BOTs for organizing the programme and advised the public to encourage them to actualize their target at eradicating cancer in the state and in the federation, assuring that he would partner with the BOTs to ensure its success. Members of the BOT, PHCC include, Rev. Canon, Dr. Kin J. Egwuonwu, Barr. O.C.J Okocha, chairman, Prof. Joseph A. Ajienka, Vice Chancellor, Uniport, Engr. Francis Amene, Dr. T.C Osanakpo (SAN) members and HRH Dr. J. Diette Spiff, Vice chairman. ###
Emeka Jilly Ejiowhor
