By Ozioruva Aliu

BENIN CITY – NOT less than120 people have benefited from the free breast, cervical, prostate cancer and general medical screening.

The exercise which was held at the Center for Disease Control, Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Benin City, Edo State was sponsored by The National Association of Seadogs (NAS).

Speaking to newsmen, a Member of the Project Execution Committee, Comrade Mowang George disclosed that the NAS in collaboration with UBTH offered free, accessible, professional breast, cervical, prostate cancer and prevalent diseases for members of the public.

According to him, “majority of Cancer related patients could survive if the ailments were detected early and given appropriate and timely treatment.”

He stated that a lot of Nigerians are not conversant with the facts about cancer and other prevalent diseases hence the screening was an opportunity to educate and inform the people adding that NAS would continue to be in the forefront of fighting cancer and other diseases.

He said the project was sponsored by NAS through its Decks-Arabella which Benin 2, Batavia Subsea in Europe, Hispaniola X (Lekki, Ajah) and Terra Kona(Canada)

Mowang used the opportunity to call on well meaning individuals and corporate organizations to support the fight against cancer and other preventable and manageable diseases.

Also speaking on behalf of the Chief Medical Director, Prof. Idia Ize Iyamu, Dr. Adebola Ozi commended members of the NAS for taking the burden of the costs of Screening off participants.

On her part, the Assistant Coordinator of Center for Disease Control (CDC), Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, UBTH, Dr (Mrs) Oby Okwara said the screening exercise also included Hepatitis B and C, HIV, Hypertension, Cholesterol, Blood Sugar, Glaucoma, Optical and Dental Diseases.

One of the beneficiaries, Mrs. Ijeamaka Helen, explained her ordeal in trying to carry out screening until she came across the NAS free screening exercise.

Another participant, Mrs. Regina George who participated in the screening exercise commended the NAS for sponsoring the free screening.