PRESS RELEASE of 1st June, 2002
Cancer patients and victims of cancer related ailments like AIDS/HIV, hepatitis, pneumonia and liver cirrhosis undergo a lot of agonies inflicted on them by the chronic diseases. The victims look despondent because of the widespread tenet that they would not survive the ailments. This is an erroneous impression. They could survive them if they are properly catered for. They need the society's encouragement to overcome.
To really prove that the victims need succour and that working for humanity is indispensable, MAMA CANCER FOUNDATION OF NIGERIA, a non-governmental organizaion, was formed for the promotion, treatment, research and realization of awareness of the disease and the enhancement of hope for ailing victims. It also plans to provide support for the victims and their families in difficult circumstances
On Friday, the 26th of April 2002, the Foundation paid a hospital visit to the patients at Ahmadu Bello University Teaching hospital, Kaduna with assorted gift items. At the end of the visit, Mrs. Rose Dibie, a Senior Nursing officer with the Hospital who took the Foundation members round the wards, expressed the appreciation of the hospital authorities for the visit and the gratitude of the patients who were pleasantly surprised by our care and concern. The Foundation was represented by the Initiator and Chief Executive Director Hajia Nana-Aisha Abu Ali, Trustee Member and Program Coordinator Mrs. Dolores Lami Mohammed and the Secretary General Mr. Casmiar Uche Obialom.
Funded through members' contributions, donations and support from donor agencies, the Foundation is open to all interested men, women and youths who subscribe to its ideals.
The Board of Trustees and Patrons of MAMA CANCER FOUNDATION OF NIGERIA include:
Her Excellency, Mrs. Titi Abubakar Atiku- Wife of the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Trustee, His Excellency, Alh. Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi - Executive Governor of Kaduna State. Patron, Alh. (Dr) Zanna Bukar Umoru Mandara (Zanna Dujima of Borno and Member of the Borno Emirate Council) Grand Patron, Brig. Gen. Garba Mohammed Patron, Mallam Abubakar Sadiq Adama Patron, Alh. Aminu Tijjani (Turakin Zauzau) Trustee, Professor C. U. Abengowe -Trustee, Mr. Franco Sani Adams (U.S.A.) Trustee, Ambassador Sarah N. Jibril Ex-Officio Member., Hajia Jummai Ahmed Bello Ex-Officio Member & Co-Ordinator, Abuja.
Because health is wealth, the activities of the Foundation are highly commended. The Foundation shall, from time to time, embark on hospital visits and shall propagate her services to every nook and cranny of the society.
Mr. Casmiar Uche Obialom, DCA
Secretary General
MAMA CANCER FOUNDATION OF NIGERIA
Pages 4-5
Cancer
and Renewed Fight for Victims
The
health of the individual is the most fundamental thing in
what ever he has and does. The utmost interest in and desire
for good health by all summarizes the belief that in deed
"health is wealth".
The
struggle for healthy living is presently the concern of all.
The individual, the government, non-governmental
organizations and so on work day and night to promote
health.
Non
Governmental Organizations, in particular, as the closest
group to the grassroots, have taken up health matters like
Cancer, HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis, etc with seriousness. They
commit so much time and resources to put smiles on the faces
of victims and to show that someone cares for them.
One
of the renowned volunteers in recent times with a focus on
health is MAMA CANGER FOUNDATION OF NIGERIA, a Kaduna-based
Non Governmental Organization with branches allover the
Federation. As Hajiya Nana-Aisha Abu Ali, the Initiator and
Chief Executive Director of the foundation puts it,
"Cancer lives with us. It is painful. It is deadly.
Cancer victims, their families and friends need help".
Prof.
C.U. Abengowe, in his paper on the history of Cancer,
defines cancer as "an abnormal and unrestrained new
growth in cells and tissues that produce~ deleterious and
often fatal effects." The history of cancer could be
traced to nearly 300 years to "Ramazinis observation
that cancer of the breast occurred more often in Nuns than
in other women and to Pott's observation some 75 years later
that Scrotal in young men occurred characteristically in
Chimney's sweeps,"
Cancer
affects males, females and even children alike. Taking into
Consideration the scaring cost of Cancer treatment, not
everyone can afford, especially patients who might require
the drugs in large quantity before their discharge from the
hospital.
The
foundation therefore offers counsel and gives material
assistance
Contd.
from page 4 ...Cancer
to
the victims especially the indigent ones. On several
occasions, the foundation has visited many of victims with
gift items various hospitals like Ahmadu Bello University
Teaching Hospital, Barau Dikko Hospital, Ibrahim Sani Abacha
Memorial Hospital, all in Kaduna, to mention but a few.
To
further her mission, the foundation intends to set up
Diagnostic, Treatment and Research Center to create an
avenue for financial self reliance by selling to consumers
at subsidized rates, within and outside Kaduna State, job
creation and the alleviation of the sufferings of the masses
who cannot afford the high cost of the products. The
foundation would produce all kinds of hospital drips, water
for injection, distilled water for injection, distilled
water for infant incubators, industrial and domestic bleach,
antiseptic disinfectants, syrups of all kinds and eye drops.
The
industry would also produce blood substitute and plasma
expanders (isoplasma 4%) with some electrolytes and
polynpyrollidone, which completely arrest the transfer of
the dreaded HIV Virus to an innocent patient through blood
transfusion.
Because
health is wealth, the laudable effort of MAMA CANCER
FOUNDATION OF NIGERIA has been commended at various
quarters. With the able leadership of the Initiator- Hajiya
Abu Ali, the Program Coordinator- Mrs. Dolores L. Mohammed
and Professor C.U.Abengowe-Chairman, Research and
Statistics, among others, the sky is the limit of the
foundation.
By
Casmiar Uche Obialom
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