By Chioma Obinna

At the first-ever Father’s Day celebration held in Lagos last week, Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola, called on Nigerians to change for the better their attitude towards their health.

The event, held by the Lagos State branch of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) in collaboration with the National cancer Prevention programme (NCPP), was aimed at drawing attention of the public to the importance of healthy lifestyle.

Fashola who spoke through the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr Femi Olugbile, decried the practice of going to the hospital only when illnesses were at a very late stage.

He said for diseases such as cancer, many patients usually report at Stage IV when intervention may not make reasonable meaning and that the absence of information was a major problem of cancer management.

“One concern is that Nigeria doesn’t have enough cancer centres. The focus now should be shifting from illness to wellness, seeking to change people’s mind. There is need to synchronise and synergise.”

The low life expectancy and the escalating deaths from cancer have been blamed on lack of health maintenance which has almost become a cultural thing among Nigerians.

National Coordinator, NCPP, Dr. Kin Egwuonwu who gave a scary picture of cancer situation in the country, advised that to improve life expectancy, there is need for health maintenance. He admonished those in authority to take urgent action so as to make a difference.

Earlier, Chairman of NCPP, Mrs Margaret Adetutu-Adeleke, who said the hue and cry about cancer said cancer is number one killer of mankind and kills more people than heart disease, HIV &AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis combined.

Adetutu Adeleke said each year, around 400, 000 people are newly diagnosed with cancer in Nigeria, with more than 100,000 people dying.

“The WHO says one third of all cancers can be prevented, another one – third can be cured if found early, while the last third of the cases can benefit from improved quality of life through palliative care.

While pointing out that the health of men has been often neglected, the NCPP chairman said “Nigerians have a very low life expectancy but Nigerian women still live longer than Nigerian men. To promote the welfare of the fathers is to safeguard.”

She said every year Father’s Day, which comes up in third Sunday of June will be followed by a week -long health campaign known as Men’s Health Week with a grand finale on the 28th of June which is also the birthday of Governor Fashola.

State Chairman, PFN, Apostle Alexander Bamgbola noted that the first programme was held in 2009 with focus on women’s health. He said through the programme PFN was able to screen many women for cervical cancer and other diseases.

Bamgbola observed that poor attitude to health was high within the Church. he admonished Christians to observe regular medical check up.