In a bid to ensure that more people, especially young women, are better informed on and join in the fight against cancer, the University of Ilorin Students’ Union, in collaboration with the LEAH Foundation, a pet project of the wife of the Governor of Kwara State, Mrs. Omolewa Ahmed, has organised the first Breast and Cervical Cancer Campaign on campus.

The sensitisation programme, which provided free screening for breast and cervical cancer, took place at the University Auditorium last Tuesday, (November 17, 2015), was attended by the Kwara State First Lady, Mrs. Ahmed, the Provost of the College of Health Sciences, Prof. W.B.R. Johnson, who represented, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. AbdulGaniyu Ambali, the Dean of Student Affairs, Prof. Abayomi Omotesho, resource persons, as well as staff and students of the institution. In her remarks, Mrs. Ahmed, whose Foundation is concerned with drawing the attention of women in Kwara State to the ravaging effect of breast and cervical cancer, narrated how three women, who had made significant impacts on her life, died of the ailment in the last four years.

The Governor's wife, who implored the young women to take advantage of the free screening exercise, further enjoined them to share what they have learnt with others around them, saying, "It is not about the fact that you have the money to spend; it is not how educated you are; it is about doing the right thing at the right time."

Mrs. Ahmed told the audience, "If you have seen a woman suffer from confirmed cancer, you will not pray such a death, not even for your enemy. Sisters, women, daughters, mothers, present here this afternoon, this is the time for us all to come together and fight the scourge that is bent on killing us." Declaring the event open, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Prof. AbdulGaniyu Ambali (OON), represented by Prof. Johnson, commended the Students' Union Executive Committee for the initiative of putting forward a health-related discourse especially with the growing population of the female folks in tertiary institutions.

He said, "Getting the girl child increasingly educated on matters that border on their health either on themselves or their children is like teaching the entire nation and it is one of the fundamental steps in the child survival strategy of this nation and indeed the world." The Vice-Chancellor's representative, who decried the alarming statistics of cancer in Nigeria, described cervical cancer as a "silent killer of women".

Enjoining the young ladies to go for regular screening, Prof. Johnson said, "90 percent of those who suffer from cervical cancer must have had the infection from the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV)". He, however, stressed that this could be prevented not only through vaccination but also through "screening at the appropriate time."

In his own remarks, the Dean of Student Affairs, Prof. Omotesho, lauded the collaboration with the LEAH Foundation and commended Mrs. Ahmed for championing the welfare of women and children. "You are doing a very good job", the Dean told the Governor's wife, adding that "the Lord will continue to strengthen you and your Foundation will even live beyond you."

In his presentation, one of the Resource Persons and the Medical Director of Optimal Cancer Care Foundation, Lagos, Dr. Femi Olaleye, explained that recent studies have shown that the number of cancer deaths in Nigeria was very high. The expert said that faith-based organisations, wealthy individuals and corporate organisations have a crucial role to play in raising people's awareness on cancer screening, especially at the grassroots levels. He gave a logical guide on how to conduct a breast self examination as well as listing other ways through which the scourge can be avoided.

Dr. Olaleye, who likened the death of women from cervical cancer to a travesty of justice and human rights of the women, noted that the fight against cancer is a collective responsibility which must be won, "because we can prevent it by simply asking them to do screening." He maintained that "no one person can fight this war; you as students cannot do it alone, our Foundation cannot do it alone, the University cannot do it alone, we all need to do it together in order to win this war against cancer."

In the same vein, another Resource Person, Dr S. O. Agodirin, a Consultant and General Surgeon at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH), disclosed that five to ten new cases of cancer were documented every week at the Hospital. He also highlighted some symptoms of cancer, stressing that early detection will help to promote better survival outcomes. Earlier in her welcome address, the Vice-President of the University of Ilorin Students' Union, Miss Ummulkhaeri Imam-Lawal, said that the University is the first higher institution of learning in the country to host a campaign against breast and cervical cancer.

She said, "As a Union that shoulders the responsibility of protecting the interest and welfare of our dear students, we found it pertinent to educate our members especially the females, on the severity of this deadly disease". Expressing appreciation to the University management for the support garnered for the event, Miss Imam-Lawal also disclosed that the LEAH Cancer Club will be inaugurated in the University to further ensure the continuous realisation of the aims and objectives of the breast and cervical cancer awareness programme.