PRESS RELEASE: KEBBI STATE CANCER CONTROL STEERING COMMITTEE ON ADVOCACY TO EMIR OF GWANDU AHEAD OF CERVICAL CANCER SCREENING PROGRAM KICK OFF.

PRESS RELEASE
KEBBI STATE CANCER CONTROL STEERING COMMITTEE ON ADVOCACY TO EMIR OF GWANDU AHEAD OF CERVICAL CANCER SCREENING PROGRAM KICK OFF.
The Steering Committee of the Kebbi Strategic Cancer Control, in its efforts to sensitise key stakeholders and the general public on its work plan and key activities, on Friday 6th August, 2021 paid a courtesy visit to the Emir of Gwandu, and Chairman Kebbi State Council of Chiefs, Maj.Gen (Dr) Muhammad Illiyasu Bashar at his historic abode, the Abdullahi Fodio Palace, Birnin Kebbi. The Committee which is Co-chaired by Her Excellency Dr. Zainab Shinkafi Bagudu and the Kebbi State Honorable Commissioner for Health, Hon Jafar Mohammed consists of members from various Ministries and organizations including development partners, W.H.O, CHAI and Medicaid Cancer Foundation.
The Committee was led by the Honorable Commissioner Health, along with the Permanent Secretaries of Health, Cabinet Affairs, Women Affairs and Social Development, representatives from other Ministries, Directors of Ministry of Health, Heads of Health Institutions, representatives from W.H.O and UNICEF, USAID, the Media and Civil Society Organizations and the Nigerian Medical Association.
The delegation was well received by the Emir Major Gen (Dr) Mohammad Iliyasu Bashar, supported by all Council members of the Emirate Council including district heads, village heads, religious leaders, leaders of various trades and representative of all other non indigenes residing in the Emirate.
The Honorable Commissioner Health enumerated the various achievements recorded by the administration of Sen. Abubakar Atiku Bagudu in cancer control which includes: the establishment of the cancer registries, establishment of a costed state cancer control plan, inauguration of the steering as well as the cancer technical committees to actualise the plan, establishment of a Chemotherapy Unit and Oncology laboratotory, Oncology ward, Cancer Pharmacy- all in Kebbi Medical Centre Kalgo. Also of note are the Kebbi Indigent Cancer Fund which has recorded tremendous successes and is still making impact without any hiatus in terms of cancer patient care and treatment, the CAP (Chemotherapy Access Program) initiated by the Federal Government which Her Excellency successfully advocated to bring to Kebbi state.
The HCH used the visit to intimate the Emir about the plan to screen an initial 5000 women across 11 LGA for Cervical cancer. This is a joint partnership with CHAI, WHO, Medicaid Cancer Foundation and the Kebbi state Government. It is noteworthy that breast cancer and prostate cancer programmes supported by Roche, Johnson & Johnson and Kebbi State Government have since commenced and patients benefit from free drugs for these cancers.
The Commissioner attributed the milestone the achievements to the strong will and unassailable support of Her Excellency, Dr. Zainab Shinkafi Bagudu who because of her passion towards Cancer and cordial relationship with national as well as international community, is able to pool all these opportunities to the state.
The Emir assured the delegates of maximum support in any programme/activities that is geared towards alleviating his people’s sufferings. The Emir also thanked the Governor and his wife Dr Zainab Shinkafi Bagudu for initiating various laudable programmes. He then challenged the committee on continuous enlightenment on cancer causes and prevention.
During the courtesy visit, many relevant questions were asked by the council members an; religious leaders present to which satisfactory answers were provided by members of committee
In conclusion, the Emir was presented with copies of the Kebbi State Strategic Cancer Control Plan 2019-2023 for distribution to the district Heads and Village heads.
Pharm Ibrahim Maigandi Hassan
Permanent Secretary
Kebbi State Ministry of Health
07/08/2021