Anambra State Commissioner for Health, Dr Vincent Okpala has said that the state would partner with the Nigerian Police, Anambra State Command to improve healthcare and welfare of officers.
Dr Okpala said this during the launching of free prostate cancer screening treatment at Nigerian Police Command Headquarters Amawbia, Awka South Local Government Area.
The Commissioner explained that the free Prostate Cancer Screening and Treatment Exercise is for Police officers in the age bracket of 40 and above while describing the topic, “Prostate Cancer, Screening and Surgical Interventions” a timely topic for what is commonly killing our people.
He made it known that though the word in everybody’s mouth this year is COVID-19 which is an infectious and communicable disease,
But it is on record that at the moment non-communicable diseases are the most common killer in the country and it is unfortunately not getting much attention.
He listed some of the non-communicable diseases as Hypertension, Diabetics, Asthma and Cancers while stating that he is glad that they are gradually getting attention. He then pointed out that cancers are common killers in both male and females and the three major killers in male are, Prostate, Lung and Colorectal while in females are, Lung, Colorectal or Cervical and Breast cancers.
The Commissioner then emphasised that the most important thing in life is for one to always be health conscious starting from the age of 23.
Anambra State Commissioner of Police, John Bassey Abang, while flagging off the intervention exercise on behalf of the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, at the Command’s Headquarters Amawbia, explained that without a healthy police organisation, the country will not be secured.
He posited that he is the 20th Commissioner of Police in Anambra and it is the first time the medical intervention is happening of which he is grateful for. He explained that the medical intervention is in partnership with the Stanley Medical Foundation and sponsored by Mr Dozie Nwankwo, House Member representing Anaocha/Njikoka/Dunukofia Federal Constituency.
Speaking further the Commissioner said that given the nature and pressure that goes with police work, it is imperative they get medical attention constantly as It will ensure quick detection of life threatening ilments that may affect their productivity.
He reiterated that prostate cancer is a silent kill but routine checkup at least once in a month would help a lot in early detection and treatment in other to increase chances of living
Founder of the Medical Foundation, Dr Stanley Boniface, said they focused on prostate cancer because it is currently a leading cause of death among men in the World.
Dr. Boniface explained that the aim of the outreach is to foster the awareness on prostate cancer and the ills associated with the disease while expressing gratitude to CP Abang for accepting the programme in line with the IGP health mantra and Mr Nwankwo for sponsoring the programme.
Lawmaker representing Aguata 2 Constituency in the State House of Assembly and Chairman House Committee on Health, Dr Carter Umeh, lauded the gesture saying it was the first of its kind in the history of the command.
