INTERNATIONAL CANCER
AWARENESS MONTH (ICAM), OCTOBER 2012
PRESS RELEASE FOR THE MAIDEN NATIONAL
PINK DAY
NATIONAL PINK
DAY - NIGERIA (NPD-N)!
October is an International
Cancer Awareness Month (ICAM), with special emphasis on breast cancer, the
commonest cancer among women globally. The ICAM is an annual international
campaign against the cancer pandemic. The symbolic colour for the month is
pink.
The 18th of
October, 2012 is being marked as the
maiden National Pink Day-Nigeria (NPD-N)
of the National Cancer Prevention Programme (NCPP). We hope to mobilize
Nigerians from all walks of life, including diasporans, to observe the day by
adding a touch of pink to their dressing, décor, website, social media, etc. To
aid participation, pink-themed advocacy souvenirs may be obtained from NCPP
offices. The NPD-N is being anchored pro bono by Mocality Nigeria.
The colour pink is not
only used in relation to breast cancer, but also refers to health in general,
hence the phrase ‘in the pink of health.’ Reference may be made to the
healthily glowing pink cheeks of new-born babies or energetic
sportsmen/sportswomen and the like. In this regard, we may note that Nigeria
has the 13th lowest life expectancy in the world (46 years for
males; 47 years for females). The National
Pink Day - Nigeria (NPD-N) would henceforth be marked annually on October
18 every year. It is a day to remind all Nigerians to take an active role in
ensuring that they remain in excellent health (the pink of health), by going
for regular health screening, and supporting initiatives aimed at improving the
health of society at large. The slogan for the National Pink Day 2012 is ‘In the Pink of Health.’
The day will be marked
by a press conference at the NCPP Lagos Office, followed by a walk, titled ‘the national pink walk.’ The walk
will take off at the NCPP office to the National Stadium.
SUMMARY FOR
THE NATIONAL PINK DAY MAIN EVENT
Event: Press
Conference followed by the first-ever ‘national
pink walk.’
Time: 12 noon
prompt
Venue: NCPP Lagos
Office - 30 Ishaga Rd, off Itire Rd, by Mabo Junction, Surulere
Dress Code: Pink or a
touch of pink
Participants:
All
are welcome
Media Partners:
Journalist
against Cancer in Nigeria (JaCiN), drawn
from the major media houses in Nigeria
THE SEVEN
SPECIAL OPEN DAYS
This year, as part of activities to mark the October
International Cancer Awareness Month (ICAM), there will be Seven Special Open
Days to be hosted by the National Cancer Prevention Programme (NCPP). This
comes up sequentially in Lagos (25th – 31st October,
2012) and Port Harcourt (18th – 24th November, 2012).
During these periods,
there will be free executive cancer screening (breast, cervical and prostate)
for invited special guests. Invitees may come in at any time from 7.00am to
7.00pm on any of the Open Days. Each guest
will be welcomed and hosted promptly, so as not to spend more than one hour at
the programme. Simultaneously, there will also be free mass cancer screening
for the general public at designated venues, including some selected media
houses.
Following the Open Days,
participating organizations will continue to receive regular Information /
Education / Communication materials from NCPP all year round. Their employees
will also continue to benefit from the growing range of free or subsidized
preventive or intervention services offered by the NCPP, including
complementary free eye (ophthalmological) screening.
THE
PORT HARCOURT CANCER CENTRE (PHCC)
As the major actionable aspect of the International Cancer Awareness Month (ICAM)
and the National Pink Day-Nigeria
(NPD-N), we are asking all Nigerians to support the effort to establish a
comprehensive cancer centre in each of Nigeria’s geopolitical zones, starting
with the Port Harcourt Cancer Centre (PHCC) in the South-South. The total cost of each of the comprehensive cancer centres is sixty three million dollars (ten billion naira).
The
establishment of a comprehensive cancer centre in Nigeria is an
acute necessity, given the fact that cancer is the number one killer of
mankind; it kills more people than HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis combined.
Globally, one in every three persons are being diagnosed with cancer, and 80,000
Nigerians die from cancer annually (i.e. 10 Nigerians every hour). Furthermore, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) forecast that by 2030, there will be more
than 21 million new cases of cancer, and 13 million cancer deaths, every year.
In contrast death from infectious diseases will fall by about 7 million per
year. Indeed, cancer is the most expensive disease to treat, with
an economic toll of $895 billion in 2008. The good news is that
most of these cancer-related deaths are preventable through awareness/lifestyle
changes, early detection and access to first-class treatment (World Health Organisation, WHO 2002).
The
NCPP has already established basic cancer advocacy/screening/follow-up
centres in Lagos, Abuja, and Port
Harcourt, and by utilizing mobile
screening units as well as through the media (electronic, print and online) has
so far reached millions across the whole federation with awareness, screening,
vaccination and treatment. Those that have precancerous lesions and early
cancers are treated locally, with good outcomes. But, what about those
diagnosed with late stages of cancer requiring advanced technology? What is the
hope for the poor who cannot afford to travel to India or other countries?
To drive home the message, we may juxtapose the
situation in India with that in Nigeria. While
India has over 120 comprehensive
cancer centres, Nigeria has over 120 registered private jets, but not a single cancer institute to adequately tackle the epidemic. (It costs far more to
acquire and maintain a state-of-the-art luxurious private jet than to establish
a world-class comprehensive cancer centre). Consequently, Nigerians spend $200 million every year to
seek medical care abroad, a severe drain on our nation’s foreign reserve. It is worthy
of note that most of the
comprehensive cancer centres in India were established through non-governmental effort, supported by
the private sector.
The
choice of Port Harcourt for the pioneer centre is because the environmental challenges of the region make contact
with cancer-related pollutants a fact of life in the Niger Delta (please
refer to the 2011 report of the United Nations Environmental Programme, UNEP). In addition, this region, including the entire old Eastern
region of Nigeria, has a dearth of facilities for cancer care. Finally, this initiative is an excellent way of marking the centenary of
the garden City of Port Harcourt,
founded in 1912.
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC),
all the major network operators, Interswitch Nigeria Ltd, and the Nigerian
Guild of Editors are facilitating this project. The Bible Society of Nigeria
(BSN) translated the awareness messages into Nigeria’s indigenous
languages. ExxonMobil is the first
corporate body to contribute financially to the project, while the Niger Delta
Development Commission (NDCC) is the first public sector Partner. Locally, a
community in Eleme, near Port Harcourt, has generously offered 50 acres of land
to the PHCC. Apart from corporate partners, several individuals have also become
PHCC Partners.
The Special Open Days
provide an opportunity for other public-spirited individuals and organizations
to become Partners of the Port Harcourt Cancer Centre (PHCC), the first
comprehensive cancer centre in West Africa.
Anyone
may contribute towards the project by sending the word ‘cancer’ to ‘44777’ (N100/sms, all networks); or via online
transfer or ATM using the code ‘77526’ (www.quickteller.com). We request
that you utilize your internal and external communications network to publicize
these two codes – 44777 and 77526.
We feel highly privileged to be able to seek the hand of
partnership of the good people of Nigeria in this project, and hope that we
would all become agents of change by joining in the growing ‘Coalition of Care.’ Generations yet
unborn, who will inherit this noble legacy shall bless all those who played a
role in making it happen.
We look forward to welcoming all on board, for “Together it is possible!” (WHO/IARC
theme for World Cancer Day, 2012).
With our highest regards and deepest appreciation,
Yours Sincerely,
Kin
J-Egwuonwu
The Revd Canon Dr. Kin
J-Egwuonwu
National Coordinator
ACT! Attack
Cancer Today!
ACT!!
Attack Cancer Together!!
ACT!!!
Attack Cancer Totally!!!
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