Sebeccly partners RCCG to screen 3000 women for cancer

In a bid to reduce the scourge of cancer in Nigeria, a silent killer that kills thousands of women yearly, Sebeccly Cancer Centre, a not for profit organisation that empowers women on information, screening and treatment of breast and cervical cancer recently collaborated with The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) to mobilize and screen about 3, 000 women for breast and cervical cancer during the church’s recently concluded annual convention.

Sebeccly, which has been in existence for over 12 years and is committed to eradicating cancer in Nigeria, set up the ‘Time to Screen’, an initiative to screen women for breast and cervical cancer and in turn, push for their treatments.

The screening, which was conducted during the just concluded 2018 convention in Ogun State, attracted millions of women from all over the country.An expert in radiation oncology and founder of Sebeccly Cancer Centre, Omolola Salako who specializes in the treatment of breast, head and neck cancer, economics of cancer, brachytherapy and other solid adult tumors told The Guardian that “the annual convention attracts millions of women, so we found an eligible place for screening, plus we had in partnership, the Redeemers Health Centre and with technical support from the clinic, we were able to hit our goal of screening 2,600 women.”

Salako said the country records 10,000 new cervical cancer cases every year, adding that if only these women had been screened and detected early, the number wouldn’t be this high and more women would live longer, fulfilled lives.

“During the screening, we had high incidents of breast and cervical cancer cases, coming to a total of 60 that was detected and we recorded 25 already established cases who presented for support.” For further prevention and reduction in death rate of cervical cancer amongst women, she instructed that “ young girls be vaccinated and girls above 21 years old should not only examine their breasts regularly but must undergo cervical screening regularly.”

Most of the women who were screened at the convention have never been screened. Felicia Akinyemi, a member of the church from Portharcourt, who was screened at the convention grounds, said she feels elated knowing that she is cancer free and encouraged other women to know their cancer status, adding that early detection is the only way to beat the disease.