PRESS RELEASE: KEBBI STATE STAKEHOLDERS CONSULTATIVE MEETING ON ALIGNING GLOBAL FAMILY PLANNINIG TARGETS (FP2030) WITH CERVICAL CANCER ELIMINATION TARGETS (90:70:90)

PRESS RELEASE
KEBBI STATE STAKEHOLDERS CONSULTATIVE MEETING ON ALIGNING GLOBAL FAMILY PLANNINIG TARGETS (FP2030) WITH CERVICAL CANCER ELIMINATION TARGETS (90:70:90)
It has been reported by WHO that over 311,000 women die from cervical cancer each year due to limited access to routine screening and early treatment. Many of these cancer patients have unmet family planning issues. As result, the global health community has prioritized both reduction of unmet family planning issues and global elimination of cervical cancer. This therefore, provide an opportunity to review the evidence base and share practical considerations for integration of these services, with a view towards pursuing expanded access to both cervical cancer screening and family planning services together. This is also in line with Millennium Development Goals.
Leveraging on the global strategies, the Kebbi State Cancer Control Programme in collaboration with Medicaid Cancer Foundationand State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (KBPHDA) held a stakeholders consultative meeting on 6th September 2021, aimed at Aligning WHO Global Family Planning with Cervical Cancer Elimination targets 90: 70: 90 in Kebbi State. The meeting was declared open by Commissioner of Health and Chair of the meeting, Hon Jafar Mohammed. He opined that collaboration between Kebbi state Government and Medicaid Cancer Foundation is a welcome development that has paved way for a lot positive health outcomes in the State.
According to the Commissioner aligning and integrating family planning with Cervical Cancer Screening facilitates the detection of the ugly disease and at a very early stage. He thanked the duo of Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu and Dr Zainab Shinkafi Bagudu for their determination to end cervical cancer not only in Kebbi state but Nigeria and the world at large.
The Special Guest of Honour, Prof. O.A Ladipo Co-Founder, President and CEO, Association for Reproductive and Family Health (ARFH) commended the state Government for what it had put in place especially the Indigent Cancer Fund- a basket fund for cancer which not all states in the Federation have. He said integrating family planning and cervical cancer screening is an opportunity to screen women and detect cervical cancer early. Prof Ladipo said that for cancer “early detection, early treatment and early recovery” is the way forward.
In their remarks Drs Abubakar Koko and Abubakar Kaoje welcomed the idea of twinning the two issues saying it will go a long way in reducing some health challenges and urged participants to pay attention and deliberate thoroughly.
The Founder and CEO of Medicaid Cancer Foundation, Dr Zainab Shinkafi Bagudu thanked stakeholders and development partners for sparing their valuable time to attend the meeting and assured them that all efforts will be made to end cervical cancer completely in Kebbi, Nigeria and the world at large. She was represented by the Special Adviser to the Governor on women development Hon Zara’u Abubakar Wali.
Hajia Halima Kangiwa, State coordinator Family planning, Dr. Jamilu Muhammad Asst. Director and State CancerDesk officer, State cancer control program and Dr Ishaq Lawal, Consultant Obstetrics & Gynecologist all made presentations on Family Planning Status, Cancer Control Program and Evidence for Integration of Cervical Cancer into family planning services respectively.
Pharm Ibrahim Maigandi, Hassan
Permanent Secretary, Health.