Muslim Group Enlightens Members On Cancer

DIVISION 2 of Jamaatul Islamiyya of Nigeria, Lagos branch, in conjunction with Organisation for Human Progress and Health Initiative (HOPIH), an NGO of Jamaatul Islamiyya of Nigeria), recently, organised a sensitisation programme themed: ‘Protection From Killer Disease – Cancer.’

The event, held in Lagos, attracted members of the organisation from within and outside the zone.

Speaking on why the organisation embarked on the programme, the National President of Jamaatul Islamiyya of Nigeria and Overseas, Arc. Taofeek Agbaje, said: “We realised that a lot of people are not aware of the deadly disease and they don’t understand that this thing is actually with us here. We want to educate our members and the public on the health implication of this deadly disease called cancer. It is not only for women, it is a problem for everybody.”

Counseling participants on what they should do, since there is no cure for cancer, Dr. Is’haq Saba from the Lagos University Teaching Hospital noted: “Awareness is very low and another problem is ignorance. Those who have it run to religious bodies where they think they can easily find cure; hence they go away from the experts. We want to let them know that if cancer is detected early, it can be treated. Therefore, we encourage people, men and women that are above 40, to go for mammography.”

Calling on President Muhammadu Buhari to declare a state of emergency in assisting people who have cancer, Saba said: “In Nigeria, we don’t have facilities for the treatment of patients. As I’m talking to you now, we have only two centres that are working in Nigeria.”

Another speaker at the event, a food nutritionist, Dr. Mubarak Ameen, who was represented by his wife, Dr. (Mrs.) Ameen, lamented that a lot of people eat junk food. Ameen called on Nigerians to eat a lot of fruits and vegetables.

Those who attended the programme were also screened for HIV.