From: David Onwuckwekwa, Nnewi
A nongovernmental organisation, the Odu and Gold Igboegwu Trust Fund Centre, Amakwa Ozubulu in Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra State, has conducted a one-day cervical cancer screening programme in the area.
This was done in collaboration with another Enugu-based NGO under the aegis of Breast Without Spot.
During the exercise which was basically focused on women, over 100 members of the rural community tested negative with no positive result recorded.
Speaking to newsmen, South South coordinator of the Breast Without Spot organisation, Lady Okwuosa Chinenye, attributed the negative results to environmental factor and dietary condition of the villagers which she said should be emulated.
According to her, “A lot of them have been screened and non tested positive so far, no case has been recorded. I think this can be attributed to their dietary condition and exposure to natural environment. The rural dwellers eat natural food like vegetables, fruits and those things away from synthetic items. And most of them do not hustle like those in the cities. We advise them to maintain that. But women are encouraged to undergo a test like this from time to time,” Chinenye said.
Executive Director of Odu and Gold Igboegwu Trust Fund Centre, Lady Alfreda Oruche, expressed worry that some of the rural dwellers were not responsive to the screening exercise. “Before the day of the screening programme, there was a woman I reminded of the exercise. She said God forbid her to have cancer and told me emphatically that she would not come. Some of them are afraid to participate, thinking that they might test positive whereas those tested were negative, “she said.
Lady Oruche said there was a lecture series on cancer in the community sometime ago which she said promoted the screening exercise. She explained that the exercise would be backed up with a seminar for further sensitization of the rural women to always participate in subsequent screening programme.
She said a team of medical doctors, laboratory technicians and nurses were engaged to assist the medical doctors to diagnose those who participated.