From Femi Oyelola in Kaduna
The Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital, Kaduna, Brig. Gen. Godwin Ogoh has expressed the hospital’s readiness to partner with Hassy’s Haven Foundation to strengthen cancer awareness, early detection, and screening programs across communities.
Ogoh made this statement during a courtesy visit by Ms. Hussaina, founder of Hassy’s Haven Foundation, to the hospital in Kaduna.
He emphasized that prevention and early detection are the most effective strategies for reducing the burden of cancer, especially breast and cervical cancers, which continue to cause many deaths due to late presentation.
According to him, many women in society are unaware of the importance of routine breast self-examination and often seek medical attention only when the disease has advanced.
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“Treating cancer is expensive, and prevention is always better than a cure. One of the most important things organizations can do is educate women on how to examine their breasts regularly.
If women learn to check their breasts and identify abnormalities early, it will significantly reduce late-stage diagnoses and improve treatment outcomes,” he said.
The CMD recounted cases of patients whose breast cancer diagnoses were delayed because symptoms were mistaken for normal breastfeeding-related changes, resulting in advanced disease before treatment began.
He stressed the importance of ongoing public education through community engagement, radio programs, social media campaigns, and other advocacy platforms.
“Our society still needs a lot of education. Continuous awareness messages can help women understand the importance of checking their breasts and seeking prompt medical attention whenever they notice unusual changes,” he said.
Ogoh also encouraged women, especially those at risk for cervical cancer, to undergo regular Pap smear screening, describing it as an effective tool for early detection and prevention.
He assured the foundation that the hospital is willing to support community-based cancer screening outreach efforts by providing medical expertise, diagnostic services, and screening support.
“If your organization plans community outreach, we can collaborate. We can deploy medical personnel, conduct screenings, collect Pap smear samples, analyze them, and provide results with follow-up recommendations.
The more people we can prevent from developing advanced cancer, the better for everyone,” he said.
The CMD pointed out that many cancer patients face significant financial challenges, citing cases where treatment costs have reached millions of naira.
He noted that early diagnosis could greatly reduce treatment costs and improve survival rates.
Earlier, Mrs. Hussaina Yakubu, founder of Hassy’s Haven Foundation, said the organization was founded in memory of her late twin sister, Hassana, who battled cancer for eight years before passing away.
She explained that her sister’s experience inspired the foundation’s focus on cancer awareness, early detection, patient support, and healthcare advocacy.
According to her, the foundation has conducted awareness campaigns and provided support visits to cancer patients across Kaduna State.
Hussaina added that the visit aimed to explore partnership opportunities with the hospital in cancer prevention, awareness, screening, diagnosis, and treatment support.
She specifically sought collaborations in cervical cancer screening through Pap smear tests, breast cancer screening, pathology services, and community outreach aimed at vulnerable populations.
“We believe that through strategic partnerships like this, we can increase cancer awareness, promote early detection, reduce preventable deaths, and give hope to those affected by cancer,” she said.
She expressed optimism that a partnership between the foundation and the hospital would improve access to cancer screening and bolster efforts to fight the disease in communities across the state.
