LAPO Combats Cancer, Screens 27,689 Community Members

Cancer mortality remains the highest in Africa and among the highest in the world, according to the World Health Organisation.

As a development organisation, Lift Above Poverty Organization (LAPO) is committed to disease prevention and health improvement in Nigeria. In 2016, the organisation initiated the LAPO Community Campaign for Cancer Control (LAPO-C4) in Nigeria with the main objective of addressing increasing cancer morbidity and mortality in Nigeria. The project is being implemented in collaboration with 13 Community-Based Organizations in Lagos, Edo, Imo, Abuja and Rivers State.

With the LAPO-C4 project, LAPO has created cancer awareness amongst Five Million community members to date, screened 27,689 community members for the ailment, referred 19,893 for screening with 339 persons with health conditions referred for treatment in government-approved health facilities.

The Executive Director of LAPO, Sabina Idowu-Osehobo who said the project is aimed at preventing and mitigating cancer-related deaths in Nigeria expressed concern that almost 102,000 new cases of cancer occur annually in Nigeria with over 60% in women due to breast and cervical cancer.

She traced the main barriers to cancer control in Nigeria to poor access to screening services and inadequate awareness noting that with early detection, over 80% of cancer cases are preventable while 40% of the disease can be eradicated by lifestyle changes.

Idowu-Osehobo advised women to ascertain their health status regularly as breast and cervical cancer pose a serious threat to their lives, adding that the organization has over the years been involved in community health sensitization and support for health facility upgrading in rural communities across the country.

She said the main barriers to cancer control in Nigeria include poor access to screening services and inadequate awareness about the ailment.

Ultimately, the project is designed to assist community members to detect cancer ailments early for timely uptake of preventive treatment.

February 6, 2020

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