No fewer than 40 women die of breast cancer daily in Nigeria, says Executive Director, Ovie Brume Foundation, Adeola Awogbemi.
Awogbemi disclosed this during a walk organised by the organisation for pupils as part of activities to mark the World Cancer Day 2017, in Yaba, Lagos.
According to Awogbemi, cancer constitutes a major challenge to development, undermines social and economic advances throughout the world, hence the need to raise awareness on the disease, which is rapidly becoming a global pandemic.
To reduce the number of women dying of breast cancer and to ensure that the disease is detected early, she advised that preventive measures should start from childhood.
Her words, “We feel strongly the need to educate people about the pandemic and stem the tide by making information available to people.
“It is not the cancer that is really killing them but late detection. Most people are in denial, so they fast and pray for it to go instead of treating it. If you detect it early, you can still treat it and survive it.
“When it comes to preventing cancer, it is wise to educate the young ones. Perhaps if they start preaching this gospel, if they start creating awareness in their schools and communities too, people will become aware.”