Oluremi Tinubu, first lady of Nigeria, has donated N1 billion to the national cancer fund to support the fight against cervical cancer.
The first lady, while receiving a delegation of the national
task taskforce on cervical cancer elimination led by Iziaq Salako, minister of
state for health, said there is no need to be ashamed to seek help for those
suffering from the disease.
“I am in support of what you are doing. We are on track,
especially with the approach you have adopted: test, screen, vaccinate, and
treat,” she said.
“No matter what wealth you have as a nation, if your
population or majority of your population is sick, you are just the poorest as
far as I am concerned.
“The theme for World Health Day this year, ‘Healthy
beginnings: hopeful future,’ I believe is so apt for what we are doing here
today. I believe you said most of my work is 70 percent in health.
“A healthy nation is a wealthy nation. No matter what wealth
you have as a nation, if your population or majority of your population is
sick, you are just the poorest as far as I am concerned.”
Salako expressed appreciation for the first lady’s support,
which he said has enabled the immunisation of 12 million girls between the ages
of 9 and 13 in the first nine months of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine
introduction.
He said the ministry of health hopes to immunise six million
girls this year.
Isaac Adewole, chairman of the task force on cervical cancer
elimination, praised Tinubu for demonstrating uncommon political will by
supporting the introduction of the HPV vaccine into the routine immunisation
program.
He said with her support, the “8 by 8 target of immunising 8
million girls” every year can be achieved, thereby eliminating cervical cancer
by 2030.
Walter Mulombo, the World Health Organisation (WHO) country
representative, appealed to the first lady to lead the campaign, noting that
every child and woman has a right to live.
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