Kwara's first lady, Olufolake AbdulRazaq, has called for sustained efforts to raise awareness on ovarian cancer, promote early presentation and improve access to timely diagnosis and treatment.

Ms AbdulRazaq made the call at an ovarian cancer sensitisation and awareness programme organised on Sunday in Ilorin. She said the programme aimed to encourage women and healthcare stakeholders to recognise the disease early and improve treatment outcomes.

Ms AbdulRazaq, founder of the Ajike People Support Centre, noted that the sensitisation campaign covered Edo, Borno and Kano, with Kwara taking the lead in the awareness event.

She stated that ovarian cancer accounts for about five per cent of deaths in Nigeria.

Ms AbdulRazaq, who is also the chair of the Nigerian Governors' Spouses Forum, emphasised the importance of recognising possible signs and understanding risk factors as key measures that could help improve outcomes.

She urged women not to ignore persistent or unusual symptoms, advising them to visit healthcare centres when needed.

"Estimates from the Global Cancer Observatory for 2024 show that about 3,687 women in Nigeria were diagnosed with ovarian cancer, while 2,605 died from the disease," she stated. "These figures underscore the need for a coordinated response to delays in cancer care through increased awareness, early recognition, appropriate referral, treatment and palliative care."

The health commissioner, Amina El-Imam, commended the governor's wife for her commitment to women's and family health.

Ms El-Imam said the state government has invested in healthcare by revitalising primary healthcare facilities and providing equipment to secondary and tertiary institutions. She cited the ongoing development of the Abdulsalam Rabiu Oncology Centre through the ASR Foundation and state-of-the-art diagnostic services at the Civil Service Hospital as part of efforts to strengthen cancer diagnosis and treatment.

Olubunmi Jetawo-Winter of the Kwara Health Insurance Scheme said the scheme had more than 100 healthcare providers on its network and has served over 200,000 beneficiaries. She stressed that awareness must be matched with access to affordable, quality healthcare, including preventive screening, timely diagnosis, and appropriate treatment.

Kike Adesina, representing the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment, urged women to watch for persistent abdominal bloating or swelling, pelvic or abdominal pain, early satiety, and unusual changes in bowel or urinary habits. She said awareness should lead to early presentation, timely referral, and access to appropriate care.