Experts Push for Early Cancer Detection and Treatment Subsidies

During a cancer awareness walk organized by the Cancer Health Initiative at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) Teaching Hospital in Ogbomoso, Oyo State, medical experts called for early cancer detection and subsidized treatment. Dr Ajibade Damileye, a medical doctor at Mercy Teaching Hospital and co-founder of the initiative, attributed late cancer presentations to inadequate public awareness of the disease and its symptoms.

He identified warning signs such as persistent fatigue, unusual paleness, unexplained weight loss, breast lumps, and coughing up blood. Dr Damileye urged the public to consult healthcare professionals for unusual symptoms and recommended enrollment in the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) scheme for accessing cancer-related healthcare services.

He also called for increased government subsidies for cancer treatment and awareness campaigns, particularly in rural areas. Nurse Anyanwu Chioma Prisca from LAUTECH Teaching Hospital emphasized the importance of educating the community about breast cancer, its warning signs, and the need for prompt medical attention.