The Rapid increase in cancer incidents calls for the need to step up the advocacy for cancer literacy and knowledge amongst the population to help remove the stigma and fear attached. It is critical to dispel wrongly believed myths, inform people about the signs and symptoms, and benefits of screening for early detection to seek treatment at an early stage.
Enlightening people about the risk factors, since more than 30% of cancer cases could be prevented by making healthier lifestyle choices or avoiding the risk factors, also sharing survivor stories gives a message of hope and confidence in the war against cancer.
Delivering the 26th Inaugural lecture at the Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria, Prof Emeka Iweala of the department of biochemistry, college of science and technology decried the state of manpower and infrastructure development in the area of research and advocacy in an attempt to curtail the scourge.
” Cancer cases in Nigeria are grossly underreported. To fight the scourge, there is a need for infrastructure development as well as personnel training which will stimulate the drive for the eradication”.
Themed; Confronting the ravaging ” crab” for sustainable development: A biochemistry Archetype, Prof Iweala said, some of the greatest constraints in the drive towards eradicating cancer is the lack of awareness, stressing that there is a need for the government, non-governmental organizations, universities, and research institutes to adopt a multidisciplinary approach to confronting the scourge and commit to educating the masses that the cancer battle can be fought and won.
