Amen Healthcare and Empowerment Foundation (AHF), in partnership with the government of Gombe State, northeast Nigeria, has launched a free breast and cervical cancer management programme.

AHF President Rita Oguntoyinbo said four screening centres had been set up in Kumo, Kaltungo, Bajoga and Gombe to provide educational information, screening and treatment of pre-cancerous cells.

‘So far, we have screened 3,340 women, 62 of them received treatment while 22 were referred, 12 women with suspicious breast cancer were also referred and I believe they are getting the necessary attention’, she said.

She said her foundation and the state government have jointly trained 11 health workers on how to screen and manage breast and cervical cancer, using acetic acid and treatment of pre-cancerous cells with Cryotherapy.

Speaking at the event, wife of the state governor, Hajiya Asma’u Yahaya, said breast and cervical cancers were amongst the leading diseases that cause high mortality rate in women.

The governor’s wife emphasised that early detection of breast cancer was important for survival, adding that the programme would ensure more women in Gombe get the needed attention to remain healthy.

‘This programme is to create awareness on the importance of health screening exercises that will help early detection for timely treatment’, she said.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Photo source: USAID in Africa