Anambra Commissioner for Health, Dr Vincent Okpala, says early detection and treatment of cancer are key to surviving the disease.
Dr Okpala stated this while addressing journalists as part of activities to mark 2022 World Cancer Day, which comes up on 4th February, every year.
The Health Commissioner explained that the day aims to prevent millions of deaths each year by raising awareness and education about cancer, as well as pressing governments and individuals across the world to take action against the disease.
He described Cancer as a large group of diseases that can start in an organ or tissue of the body when abnormal cells grow uncontrollably and go beyond their usual boundaries to invade adjoining parts of the body or spread to organs.
Dr. Okpala further disclosed that cancer is the second leading cause of death globally, accounting for an estimated deaths of about ten million people annually and is projected to cause the deaths of about thirteen million people in the year 2030.
The Health Commissioner urged the citizens to avoid tobacco intake, maintain healthy weight and diet, limit alcohol intake, practice safe sex and get vaccinated against hepatitis B, among others precautions in order to stay safe from the disease, stressing the importance of early diagnosis toward preventing from cancer.
Commissioner Okpala commended governor Willie Obiano for all he has done in ensuring that the State is doing well in the awareness creation and treatment of non-communicable diseases in Anambra state.
Anambra State Director of Public Health and Disease Control, Dr. Uchechukwu Onyejimbe, said the Ministry is doing all it can to scale up sensitization and awareness campaigns against non-communicable diseases, including cancer in the state.
The State Coordinator of the Non-Communicable Disease, Mrs. Ada Ego among others were present during the briefing.
The theme for this year’s World Cancer Day is “Close the Care Gap”.
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