The Medicaid Cancer Foundation’s annual cancer awareness walk is billed to take place on Saturday along the major roads in Abuja.
DAILY NIGERIAN reports that the symbolic walk attracts Nollywood and Kannywood celebrities, comedians, right activists, and some ex-Super Eagles stars, among others
Addressing newsmen in Abuja on Friday as parts of activities heralding the symbolic walk, the Founder and the Chief Executive Officer of the Foundation, Dr. Zainab Bagudu, said the awareness became necessary so as to bring to a minimum level the rate of cancer patients in the country.
Mrs Bagudu, who is the wife of the Kebbi State governor, said her motivation to help in the elimination of the cancer scourge knows no bound, adding that her foundation alone had assisted more than two hundred thousand people across the country.
Mrs Bagudu, however, appealed to the government to build Cancer centers in different locations across the country.
Cancer treatment is very expensive. Radiotherapy alone is about N400,000. So, the world needs to do more to eradicate cancer,” she stated.
In their testimonies, some of the cancer survivors in attendance said after being diagnosed with the disease, they never knew they would survive.
Saibab Yakadai, one of the survivors, said she only woke up one day discover she had cancer.
Mrs Yakadai, however, commended Medicaid Cancer Foundation for giving her hope to live.
Also speaking, a women’s rights activist, Dr. Joe Odumakin, saluted the Kebbi governor’s for touching lives for more than eight years.
“We know that cancer is the second largest killer in the world and we know that cancer knows no colour, no race or gender. We must all come out en-mass to create awareness.
“We want the government to give cancer patients free medical care because it very expensive,” Mrs Odumakin called.
Some of the known Nollywood actors and actresses who attended the briefing called on all Nigerians, especially the well-to-do in the society to support the founder of Medicaid.
The ex-international, Peter Rufai, who was also present at the briefing, called on organisations and individuals to join what he described as “saving lives ministry.
“I call on Nigerians and organisations home and abroad to support this cause so that it can save more lives,” Mr Rufai added.
