From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja
A United States-based cancer survivor, Dr. Clara Ogbaa has called for the establishment of a cancer treatment centre in Nigeria, stating that it would make treatment accessible to people suffering from the disease.
Ogbaa, who was part of a medical mission by the Anambra State Association (ASA), an association of Anambra State women in the United States of America, said the key to surviving cancer was early detection.
She said during the medical mission, it was discovered that most victims of cancer in the rural areas were usually not aware that they had the disease until it is too late.
According to her, whereas most persons see cancer as a death sentence, she was able to survive the disease because it was detected on time.
Ogbaa said as part of its public service, ASA has already secured a space within the premises of the Anambra State University Teaching Hospital, Amaku-Awka to build a cancer centre, but has not been able to do so because of paucity of fund.
She called on the government and public spirited individuals to support the group to realise its dream of building a cancer centre in the state.
“If the centre is established, indigent Nigerians suffering from cancer, but cannot afford treatment abroad, will be able to go there for treatment.
“The building of the centre is important, so that it will always be there, instead of us coming for a medical mission every two years,” she said.
Ogbaa decried the state of healthcare in Nigeria and stated that there was need for government, at various levels, to pay adequate attention to providing quality health care for the people.
She added that there was need for the government to provide free health care to the less privileged persons in the society, noting that “people do not even have the money to go to the hospital.
“It is bad. It is poor.
“Something has to be done. We cannot continue like this.
“It it is bad to leave majority of our people to die,” she said.