The Rivers State Government and the Peter Odili Cancer and Cardiovascular Hospital (POCCH) have launched a free breast cancer screening initiative aimed at promoting early detection and reducing deaths associated with the disease. The program targets 10,000 women and provides free mammograms, a screening procedure used to detect breast abnormalities before symptoms become apparent. This move is expected to remove financial barriers that prevent many women from accessing early diagnosis.
According to Dr. Toni Rahme, Chief Executive Officer of POCCH, the initiative was designed to encourage more women to undergo regular breast cancer screening, stressing that early detection and prompt treatment could significantly improve survival outcomes. He disclosed this during the hospital's Pink October event in Port Harcourt, where cancer survivors were celebrated and those who had lost their lives to the disease in Rivers State were honored.
Nigeria's breast cancer statistics are alarming, with an estimated 44,000 new cases and over 21,000 deaths recorded in 2024. Rahme cited these figures, underscoring the urgent need for expanded screening programs and improved access to cancer care. He emphasized that behind these figures are women, families, and futures, and that early detection matters.
The hospital's chief executive explained that the decision to target 10,000 free screenings was made to ensure that the cost of mammography would not prevent women from knowing their breast cancer status. Registration for the free mammogram program had opened, with screening appointments to be scheduled subsequently. Rahme urged women across the state to register and take advantage of the opportunity.
Dr. Rahme commended the Rivers State Government for supporting POCCH's efforts to expand access to specialized healthcare, acknowledging the contributions of the State Ministry of Health and its commissioner, Dr. Vincent Wachukwu, to advancing the partnership. He said the collaboration between the state government and the hospital reflected a shared commitment to bringing specialized medical services closer to residents and improving healthcare delivery.
The POCCH chief executive praised the hospital's medical personnel and other workers for their dedication to patient care, describing their efforts as vital to giving cancer patients and their families hope. He expressed optimism that the 10,000 free mammogram initiative would enable more women to detect breast cancer early, access timely treatment, and survive the disease.
Rahme concluded by expressing his desire to hear the "bell ringing in the oncology department, marking a new beginning, a new hope, a new life." He said the campaign aimed to give more women the chance to reach that bell, more children the chance to hold their mother's hand, and more families the hope of many years together.
Key points
- The Rivers State Government and Peter Odili Cancer and Cardiovascular Hospital partner to provide free breast cancer screening for 10,000 women.
- The initiative aims to promote early breast cancer detection, improve treatment, and reduce deaths associated with the disease.
- Nigeria recorded an estimated 44,000 new breast cancer cases and over 21,000 deaths in 2024.
