Despite years of localized awareness campaigns, Nigeria’s escalating cancer burden remains a critical public health crisis, with late-stage detection continuing to drive devastatingly high mortality rates across the country, reports ITREALMS.
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Showing posts with label cancer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cancer. Show all posts
Tuesday, June 23, 2026
40 Nigerian women die daily from breast cancer over late detection - ITREALMS
ITREALMS ... making leadership SENSE with digital news!
Despite years of localized awareness campaigns, Nigeria’s escalating cancer burden remains a critical public health crisis, with late-stage detection continuing to drive devastatingly high mortality rates across the country, reports ITREALMS.
At a high-level advocacy event held in Lagos, medical experts and reproductive health pioneers made an urgent call to women nationwide to prioritize routine clinical screenings and reject the cultural hesitations that delay medical intervention until the disease advances to irreversible stages 3 and 4.
Despite years of localized awareness campaigns, Nigeria’s escalating cancer burden remains a critical public health crisis, with late-stage detection continuing to drive devastatingly high mortality rates across the country, reports ITREALMS.
Saturday, June 20, 2026
ASA Women USA empowers 8 breast cancer survivors with medical grants in Lagos - ITREALMS
ITREALMS ... making leadership SENSE with digital news!
Marking a milestone of fifteen years of dedicated humanitarian and healthcare interventions, the Anambra State Association, Women in USA, Inc. (ASA Women USA) and the ASA Women USA Cancer Coalition in Nigeria have provided vital medical grants to some eight breast cancer survivors to assist with their treatment and recovery, reports ITREALMS.
Marking a milestone of fifteen years of dedicated humanitarian and healthcare interventions, the Anambra State Association, Women in USA, Inc. (ASA Women USA) and the ASA Women USA Cancer Coalition in Nigeria have provided vital medical grants to some eight breast cancer survivors to assist with their treatment and recovery, reports ITREALMS.
The high-profile 2026 Grant Presentation ceremony, held at the Patgelina Event Centre in Ebute Metta, Lagos, was co-hosted and chaired by the President of the Association of Anambra State Development Unions (AASDU-Lagos), Chief (Sir) Amechi Ebeledike, (Ikedinigwe).
Friday, August 15, 2025
FG says 'Our Cancer Treatment Centre' @Enugu is world class - ITREALMS
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The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has described the Federal Government’s Oncology Centre in Enugu as world class, reports ITREALMS.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has described the Federal Government’s Oncology Centre in Enugu as world class, reports ITREALMS.
This, he also said, is a proof of the commitment of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to delivering life-changing health infrastructure to Nigerians.
Friday, August 30, 2024
Neptune Prime publisher unveil cancer clinic, school, foundation for late journalists’ families - ITREALMS
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... As son weds in Yobe
The publisher of Neptune Prime newspapers, Dr Hassan Gimba, has announced plans to commission three major projects in his home state, Yobe State.
In an invitation letter sent to newsmen on Wednesday, the publisher disclosed that the event, which is scheduled to take place on August 31, is coinciding with the wedding Fatiha of his son, Barrister Suleiman Gimba.
Wednesday, March 06, 2024
New commitments towards elimination of cervical cancer - ITREALMS
ITREALMS ... making leadership SENSE with digital news!
New country, policy and program commitments, plus nearly US$600 million in new funding, at first-ever global forum offer a chance to save hundreds of thousands of lives by 2030.
Governments, donors, multilateral institutions, and partners today announced major new policy, programmatic and financial commitments, including nearly US$600 million in new funding, to eliminate cervical cancer. If these ambitions to expand vaccine coverage and strengthen screening and treatment programs are fully realized, the world could eliminate a cancer for the first time.
New country, policy and program commitments, plus nearly US$600 million in new funding, at first-ever global forum offer a chance to save hundreds of thousands of lives by 2030.
Monday, September 25, 2023
Embracing breast cancer care with technology - ITREALMS
TelecomsClinic@ITREALMS ... making leadership SENSE with digital news!
Preamble:
A few days ago, Mr Aro in remembrance of his late wife, Nne, who died over a year ago, after suffering a breast cancer affliction, sent a message to his close friends in effort at joining forces with some non-government organisations (NGOs) in their locality for the forthcoming cancer awareness campaign month.
According to him, when his wife’s cancer started, they initially alleged it was ‘enemy arrow’ and have to go shopping from one Pentecostal church to another, until her business, since she was the bread winner, went down completely.
A few days ago, Mr Aro in remembrance of his late wife, Nne, who died over a year ago, after suffering a breast cancer affliction, sent a message to his close friends in effort at joining forces with some non-government organisations (NGOs) in their locality for the forthcoming cancer awareness campaign month.
Thursday, July 20, 2023
Carbide ripen fruits cause cancer says NAFDAC – ITREALMS
ITREALMS ... making leadership SENSE with digital news!
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has warned Nigerians to be wary of carbide ripen fruits, because it causes cancer, reports ITREALMS.
Sounding this warning on Wednesday in Lagos at a day “NAFDAC Media Sensitisation Workshop on Dangers of Drug Hawking and Carbide ripen fruits” the Director-General (DG) of NAFDAC, Prof. Mrs Moji Christianah Adeyeye, warned Nigerians on the dangers of patronising drug hawkers and fruits ripened from unnatural sources, particularly carbides.
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has warned Nigerians to be wary of carbide ripen fruits, because it causes cancer, reports ITREALMS.
Monday, October 17, 2022
Polaris Bank commemorates breast cancer month - ITREALMS
ITREALMS ... making leadership SENSE with digital news!
Polaris Bank has said that increased awareness, advocacy, and support will go a long way to reduce the incidence of breast cancer in the country.
The Bank’s Group Head of Strategic Brand Management, Nduneche Ezurike made this known in Lagos while reiterating the Bank’s unwavering commitment to stem the breast cancer scourge among women, in commemoration of October Breast Cancer Month.
Polaris Bank has said that increased awareness, advocacy, and support will go a long way to reduce the incidence of breast cancer in the country.
Saturday, October 26, 2019
Relationship between breast cancer and oral hygiene - ITREALMS
Commentary@ITREALMS:
Nowadays, comedy is a multi-billion naira industry in Nigeria. A new couple could pay a comedian one million naira to perform at their wedding, but argue furiously against paying a surgeon one hundred thousand naira to perform a caesarian section to save two lives. Comedy is also the cheapest possible start-up, because the mouth is the sole physical investment of the trade. Thus a popular comedian rejoices in the name of Basket mouth. Another is called Elenu, meaning ‘mouth owner’ in the Yoruba / Anago language. But although we are not all comedians, we are all elenus – we all have mouths and our mouths are far more important for our overall health than we may realize.
October is dedicated to advocacy and creating awareness on Breast Cancer, the most common cancer in women globally (including Nigeria). Breast cancer also occurs in men, but it is 100 times more common in women. However, because most people are not aware that breast cancer can occur in men, the disease tends to be picked up much later and is often more fatal in men than in women.
According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), over 18 million people develop cancer yearly with 9.6 million deaths. Unfortunately, 70% of cancer deaths occur in developing countries like Nigeria, due to late detection. Latest WHO data shows that globally, there were over 2 million new cases of breast cancer and over 600,000 deaths from the disease in 2018. Every day, Nigeria records 32 deaths from breast cancer.
As we mark the October Breast Cancer Awareness Month, it is necessary to look at an aspect of the disease of which most people are unaware – the relationship between breast cancer and oral hygiene.
The better known risk factors for breast cancer include: female gender, increasing age, family history of breast cancer, early onset of menses, late menopause, ethnicity and alcohol/tobacco use.
However, scientific research has recently demonstrated a link between breast cancer and oral health. Women with poor oral hygiene and periodontitis (inflammation of the gum), are up to three times more likely to develop breast cancer. The risk is greater in smokers.
Poor dental hygiene and gum disease has also been linked to increased risk of other cancers (including prostate cancer, throat cancer, lung cancer, gallbladder cancer, melanoma and pancreatic cancer) and of several general health conditions (such as pneumonia, stroke, heart disease, problem pregnancy and Diabetes mellitus).
The prevention and early diagnosis of periodontitis are therefore, very important not only for the patients' oral health, but also for their overall wellbeing.
Periodontitis is a serious bacterial infection of the gum that damages the soft tissue and destroys the bone that supports the teeth. In the early stages, it often presents as bleeding or swollen or painful gums (gingivitis) and sometimes as halitosis (bad breath). The main causes of periodontal disease are poor oral hygiene and tobacco use. The bacteria most often associated with periodontitis (Treponema denticola and Porphyromonas gingivalis) enter the bloodstream through the gum. Later, the bacterial infections become associated with co-infection by viruses such as Epstein-Barr virus and Cytomegalovirus. These viruses act together with the bacteria to suppress the body’s immune response, leading to a proliferation of cancer cells in the body.
Fortunately, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of periodontitis which may predispose to cancer. The best way to achieve this is by following the 2-2-2-2-2-2-2 rule of dental hygiene, including:
1. Brush your teeth 2 times a day – last thing at night and at least one other time during the day
2. Brush your teeth for at least 2 minutes each time
3. Use 2 tools for personal oral hygiene – a fluoride-containing toothpaste and medium textured tooth brush
4. Each time you brush clean between the teeth with dental floss or an interdental brush, which ensures that bacteria is removed from all areas of the mouth.
5. Go for a dental checkup at least 2 times a year
6. During your dental checkup, have your teeth professionally cleaned (scaling and polishing or S & P)
7. Your child should start brushing his own teeth and visiting the dentist from the age of 2
Observing the following Donts of Dental Care would further enhance your oral health:
Moreover, there are over 120 medical conditions, which can be detected in the early stage by dentists. Therefore, the dentist can be the first line of defense against gum disease and other systemic diseases including cancer.
It is for this reason that mass medical mission, a foremost champion for preventive health care and national cancer control, now has dental aspect of its free outreaches. This involves the use of the Mobile Dental Centre (nicknamed the PinkDentist), to facilitate access to preventive dental services for all.
Other life-saving initiatives of mass medical mission include:
· Mission PinkCruise (free community-based health outreaches with the PinkCruise)
· Mission PinkVISION (the eye aspect of the free community outreach using Mobile Ophthalmic unit aka PinkVISION), where “VISION” stands for Voluntary Integrated Sight Saving Initiative Of Nigeria)
· Free screening at the Lagos centre every Wednesday (Wellness Wednesday) and Friday (Family Friday)
· Vaccine Fair to promote access to the quadrivalent vaccine which can prevent the various cancers caused by HPV (this Fair holds every last Friday and Saturday of the month at the Lagos centre).
To mark the October International Cancer Awareness Month and World Sight Day, members of the general public are invited to the ongoing free cancer, eye and dental screening taking place every Wednesday and Friday at mass medical mission House, 31 Bode Thomas Street, Surulere, Lagos.
Groups could also apply to be included as hosts in the 2020 schedule of the free community-based outreaches (Mission PinkCruise), by sending an email to info@pinkcruise.org.
Dr Abia Nzelu, info@pinkcruise.org
*JOIN our alert's group | Share stories with us | Advert placement: WhatsApp | SMS: +2348033592762 *Twitter: @ITREALMS *Email: itrealms.dsa@gmail.com*
*JOIN our alert's group | Share stories with us | Advert placement: WhatsApp | SMS: +2348033592762 *Twitter: @ITREALMS *Email: itrealms.dsa@gmail.com*
October is dedicated to advocacy and creating awareness on Breast Cancer, the most common cancer in women globally (including Nigeria). Breast cancer also occurs in men, but it is 100 times more common in women. However, because most people are not aware that breast cancer can occur in men, the disease tends to be picked up much later and is often more fatal in men than in women.
According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), over 18 million people develop cancer yearly with 9.6 million deaths. Unfortunately, 70% of cancer deaths occur in developing countries like Nigeria, due to late detection. Latest WHO data shows that globally, there were over 2 million new cases of breast cancer and over 600,000 deaths from the disease in 2018. Every day, Nigeria records 32 deaths from breast cancer.
As we mark the October Breast Cancer Awareness Month, it is necessary to look at an aspect of the disease of which most people are unaware – the relationship between breast cancer and oral hygiene.
The better known risk factors for breast cancer include: female gender, increasing age, family history of breast cancer, early onset of menses, late menopause, ethnicity and alcohol/tobacco use.
However, scientific research has recently demonstrated a link between breast cancer and oral health. Women with poor oral hygiene and periodontitis (inflammation of the gum), are up to three times more likely to develop breast cancer. The risk is greater in smokers.
Poor dental hygiene and gum disease has also been linked to increased risk of other cancers (including prostate cancer, throat cancer, lung cancer, gallbladder cancer, melanoma and pancreatic cancer) and of several general health conditions (such as pneumonia, stroke, heart disease, problem pregnancy and Diabetes mellitus).
The prevention and early diagnosis of periodontitis are therefore, very important not only for the patients' oral health, but also for their overall wellbeing.
Periodontitis is a serious bacterial infection of the gum that damages the soft tissue and destroys the bone that supports the teeth. In the early stages, it often presents as bleeding or swollen or painful gums (gingivitis) and sometimes as halitosis (bad breath). The main causes of periodontal disease are poor oral hygiene and tobacco use. The bacteria most often associated with periodontitis (Treponema denticola and Porphyromonas gingivalis) enter the bloodstream through the gum. Later, the bacterial infections become associated with co-infection by viruses such as Epstein-Barr virus and Cytomegalovirus. These viruses act together with the bacteria to suppress the body’s immune response, leading to a proliferation of cancer cells in the body.
Fortunately, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of periodontitis which may predispose to cancer. The best way to achieve this is by following the 2-2-2-2-2-2-2 rule of dental hygiene, including:
1. Brush your teeth 2 times a day – last thing at night and at least one other time during the day
2. Brush your teeth for at least 2 minutes each time
3. Use 2 tools for personal oral hygiene – a fluoride-containing toothpaste and medium textured tooth brush
4. Each time you brush clean between the teeth with dental floss or an interdental brush, which ensures that bacteria is removed from all areas of the mouth.
5. Go for a dental checkup at least 2 times a year
6. During your dental checkup, have your teeth professionally cleaned (scaling and polishing or S & P)
7. Your child should start brushing his own teeth and visiting the dentist from the age of 2
Observing the following Donts of Dental Care would further enhance your oral health:
- Don’t use a hard toothbrush – use a medium texture toothbrush for adults and a soft texture toothbrush for children
- Don’t use toothpick – use dental floss instead
- Don’t open bottles with your teeth
- Don’t wait until you have dental problems before you visit your dentist. Visit your dentist every six month for a dental check-up and S&P. Also, consult your dentist if you have toothache, bad breathe, cracked teeth, holes in your teeth and between gums and teeth, or if you notice any strange thing in your mouth.
Moreover, there are over 120 medical conditions, which can be detected in the early stage by dentists. Therefore, the dentist can be the first line of defense against gum disease and other systemic diseases including cancer.
It is for this reason that mass medical mission, a foremost champion for preventive health care and national cancer control, now has dental aspect of its free outreaches. This involves the use of the Mobile Dental Centre (nicknamed the PinkDentist), to facilitate access to preventive dental services for all.
Other life-saving initiatives of mass medical mission include:
· Mission PinkCruise (free community-based health outreaches with the PinkCruise)
· Mission PinkVISION (the eye aspect of the free community outreach using Mobile Ophthalmic unit aka PinkVISION), where “VISION” stands for Voluntary Integrated Sight Saving Initiative Of Nigeria)
· Free screening at the Lagos centre every Wednesday (Wellness Wednesday) and Friday (Family Friday)
· Vaccine Fair to promote access to the quadrivalent vaccine which can prevent the various cancers caused by HPV (this Fair holds every last Friday and Saturday of the month at the Lagos centre).
To mark the October International Cancer Awareness Month and World Sight Day, members of the general public are invited to the ongoing free cancer, eye and dental screening taking place every Wednesday and Friday at mass medical mission House, 31 Bode Thomas Street, Surulere, Lagos.
Groups could also apply to be included as hosts in the 2020 schedule of the free community-based outreaches (Mission PinkCruise), by sending an email to info@pinkcruise.org.
Dr Abia Nzelu, info@pinkcruise.org
*JOIN our alert's group | Share stories with us | Advert placement: WhatsApp | SMS: +2348033592762 *Twitter: @ITREALMS *Email: itrealms.dsa@gmail.com*
*JOIN our alert's group | Share stories with us | Advert placement: WhatsApp | SMS: +2348033592762 *Twitter: @ITREALMS *Email: itrealms.dsa@gmail.com*
Wednesday, April 04, 2018
Nelson Mandela Institute Abuja makes strong strides with cancer treatment
ITREALMS:
Just 17 years after Nelson Mandela sold the dream of a state of the art institution to drive Africa’s advancement in science and technology to former World Bank President Jim Wolfenssohn, the Abuja-based institution inspired by Mandela dream is making strong strides in the battle against cancer, reports ITRealms.
Three students of the African University of Science and Technology, Abuja, whose Board Chair is Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and President is Professor Kingston Nyamapfene, have in separate research efforts come up with very promising findings that are likely to make a difference in the global search for a cure to the deadly disease.
The studies include the work of Kwabena Kan-Dapaah on “Implantable Composite Devices for the Localised Treatment of Breast Cancer”; John David Obayemi’s work on Nano- Particles For Breast Cancer Detection And Treatment and Salifu T. Azeko’s work which was centred on “Biodegradation among others.
These efforts are in addition to the widely reported groundbreaking discovery in cancer treatment by a young Sierra-Leonian female student of African University of Science and Technology, Sandra Musujusu. Musujusu is developing an alternative treatment for a subtype of breast cancer commonly found in black women.
According to the student: “My research is actually centered on the development of biodegradable polymers for treatment of breast cancer… I will be focusing on triple negative breast cancer, which is actually the aggressive subtype of breast cancer that is common with women from African ancestry.”
The Sierra Leone native’s research was unveiled in July last year when World Bank director Jaime Saavedra Chanduvi visited the Nigerian school as a part of his assessment tour of the 10 African Centers of Excellence locations, funded to encourage research to benefit African countries facing problems.
Uj. N. Dominic/GEE
ITREALMS ... everything news digitally!
Three students of the African University of Science and Technology, Abuja, whose Board Chair is Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and President is Professor Kingston Nyamapfene, have in separate research efforts come up with very promising findings that are likely to make a difference in the global search for a cure to the deadly disease.
The studies include the work of Kwabena Kan-Dapaah on “Implantable Composite Devices for the Localised Treatment of Breast Cancer”; John David Obayemi’s work on Nano- Particles For Breast Cancer Detection And Treatment and Salifu T. Azeko’s work which was centred on “Biodegradation among others.
These efforts are in addition to the widely reported groundbreaking discovery in cancer treatment by a young Sierra-Leonian female student of African University of Science and Technology, Sandra Musujusu. Musujusu is developing an alternative treatment for a subtype of breast cancer commonly found in black women.
According to the student: “My research is actually centered on the development of biodegradable polymers for treatment of breast cancer… I will be focusing on triple negative breast cancer, which is actually the aggressive subtype of breast cancer that is common with women from African ancestry.”
The Sierra Leone native’s research was unveiled in July last year when World Bank director Jaime Saavedra Chanduvi visited the Nigerian school as a part of his assessment tour of the 10 African Centers of Excellence locations, funded to encourage research to benefit African countries facing problems.
Uj. N. Dominic/GEE
ITREALMS ... everything news digitally!
Tuesday, June 09, 2015
More cancer treatment available for Africans
ITRealms:
More cancer treatment will be available in Africa before the end of this year, 2015, says Elekta, reports ITRealms.
The privately owned Namibian Oncology Centre, ITRealms learnt is set to open in Windhoek later this year.
Built and equipped with funding from Spitz Healthcare Investments, the centre will have chemotherapy, laboratory, pharmacy and in-patient facilities as well as the first digital linear accelerator radiation treatment in Namibia.
The centre’s radiation unit, with the capacity to treat up to 50 patients a day, will bring to Namibia highly specialised treatment never before available in the country. The only other radiation treatment available in Namibia is at the state hospital in Windhoek, which uses an older, cobalt radiation unit. The new linear accelerator offers a wider scope of treatment protocols utilizing multiple energies capable of addressing a large variety of cancers.
A team of specialists, including oncologists, radiation therapists, nurses and support staff, is now in place to man the new centre. One of the team’s oncologists, Dr. ElrĂ© van Heerden, notes that the benefits of the new unit will extend to patients beyond Namibia’s borders, as a number of private patients from Angola are also expected to seek treatment at the facility.
Martin Noordman,service partner manager for Sub-Saharan Africa at Elekta South Africa, says the Digital Linear Accelerator offers a wider scope of treatment protocols offering multiple energies capable of addressing a large variety of cancers. He explains that the Elekta Synergy Platform with a sophisticated ultra-conformal field shaping with a fully integrated multileaf collimator allows for highly targeted radiation.Higher energies are important in the case of deep tumours or large patients. Elekta Digital Linear Accelerators allow health practitioners to limit the radiation exposure of normal tissue and so limit the side effects of treatment.
Dr. van Heerden believes this is a key benefit of the new Elekta linear accelerator and advanced treatment planning capability. “This equipment allows for highly targeted radiation treatment with limited damage to healthy tissue. This is crucial in curative treatment in particular, because with the ability to cure more patients, we need to ensure the treatment has as little long term impact on healthy tissue as possible.”
Noordman says the arrival of Elekta’s highly advanced linear accelerator in Namibia could ease the burden on the state’s oncology facility through a possible public-private partnership in future, as well as delivering a number of benefits to private patients who previously might have had to travel to major centres in South Africa for specialised treatment.
“Typical cancer treatments would entail daily treatments for six weeks. Thus traveling thousands of kilometres to another country for treatment entails significant cost and disruption for patients, but crucially – it also separates them from their emotional support base at home at a time when they need it the most.” Dr. van Heerden adds that many patients being treated for symptoms may also be too sick to travel long distances for treatment.
APO
ITREALMS ... everything news digitally!
More cancer treatment will be available in Africa before the end of this year, 2015, says Elekta, reports ITRealms.
The privately owned Namibian Oncology Centre, ITRealms learnt is set to open in Windhoek later this year.
Built and equipped with funding from Spitz Healthcare Investments, the centre will have chemotherapy, laboratory, pharmacy and in-patient facilities as well as the first digital linear accelerator radiation treatment in Namibia.
The centre’s radiation unit, with the capacity to treat up to 50 patients a day, will bring to Namibia highly specialised treatment never before available in the country. The only other radiation treatment available in Namibia is at the state hospital in Windhoek, which uses an older, cobalt radiation unit. The new linear accelerator offers a wider scope of treatment protocols utilizing multiple energies capable of addressing a large variety of cancers.
A team of specialists, including oncologists, radiation therapists, nurses and support staff, is now in place to man the new centre. One of the team’s oncologists, Dr. ElrĂ© van Heerden, notes that the benefits of the new unit will extend to patients beyond Namibia’s borders, as a number of private patients from Angola are also expected to seek treatment at the facility.
Martin Noordman,service partner manager for Sub-Saharan Africa at Elekta South Africa, says the Digital Linear Accelerator offers a wider scope of treatment protocols offering multiple energies capable of addressing a large variety of cancers. He explains that the Elekta Synergy Platform with a sophisticated ultra-conformal field shaping with a fully integrated multileaf collimator allows for highly targeted radiation.Higher energies are important in the case of deep tumours or large patients. Elekta Digital Linear Accelerators allow health practitioners to limit the radiation exposure of normal tissue and so limit the side effects of treatment.
Dr. van Heerden believes this is a key benefit of the new Elekta linear accelerator and advanced treatment planning capability. “This equipment allows for highly targeted radiation treatment with limited damage to healthy tissue. This is crucial in curative treatment in particular, because with the ability to cure more patients, we need to ensure the treatment has as little long term impact on healthy tissue as possible.”
Noordman says the arrival of Elekta’s highly advanced linear accelerator in Namibia could ease the burden on the state’s oncology facility through a possible public-private partnership in future, as well as delivering a number of benefits to private patients who previously might have had to travel to major centres in South Africa for specialised treatment.
“Typical cancer treatments would entail daily treatments for six weeks. Thus traveling thousands of kilometres to another country for treatment entails significant cost and disruption for patients, but crucially – it also separates them from their emotional support base at home at a time when they need it the most.” Dr. van Heerden adds that many patients being treated for symptoms may also be too sick to travel long distances for treatment.
APO
ITREALMS ... everything news digitally!
Saturday, June 07, 2014
Prof. Akunyili bows to cancer at last, RIP!
ITRealms:
The Immediate past Minister of Information &
Communications, Prof. Dora Nkem Akunyili, died this morning in Bangalore,
Karnataka, India, losing a two-year battle against cancer. The sad event took
place about 10am Nigerian time (3pm Indian time) four weeks after Prof.
Akunyili was flown to India for further treatment on Sunday, May 11, 2014,
having initially been treated in Abuja, the Nigerian capital.
Late Professor Akunyili, it was gathered, died peacefully,
surrounded by her husband, Dr. Chike Akunyili, and her brother, Dr. Francis
Anayo Edemobi, both of whom travelled to India with her on May 11 and remained
by her side until she drew her last breath.
Born on July 14, 1954, Prof. Akunyili would have turned 60
next month. She is survived by her husband, Dr. Chike Akunyili, her siblings,
her children, grandchildren and a host of relatives.
Popularly known as The Amazon, Prof. Dora Akunyili was a first
class patriot who deeply loved Nigeria and served the country with all she had,
irrespective of whatever risks was involved in doing so.
She demonstrated this
in all her assignments – from the classroom at the University of Nigeria,
Nsukka (UNN), to the Presidential (Special) Task Force (PTF), National Agency
for Food & Drug Administration & Control (NAFDAC), Ministry of
Information & Communications, Presidential Committee on Flood Relief and
Rehabilitation, and the on-going National Conference in Abuja, of which she was
a member until her death.
Below is the official
statement of her death as issued on behalf of her family by immediate past Governor
of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi, CON:
“PROF. (MRS.) DORA AKUNYILI IS DEAD
“On behalf of the Akunyili's family, I wish to officially
confirm the death of Prof. (Mrs.) Dora Nkem Akunyili, OFR, in a Specialist
Cancer Hospital in India this morning at 10 am, Nigerian Time, after a two-year
battle with cancer.
“In spite her illness, Prof. Akunyili was unwavering in her
belief in a better Nigeria. That was why she defied her condition and was part
of Anambra State Handover Committee and the National Conference.
“The last time I visited her in India, even when she needed
all the prayers herself, she was full of concern for the abducted Chibok girls,
security and other challenges facing the country and told me that she remained
prayerful for the release of those girls and for God to help President Goodluck
Jonathan to overcome all the challenges facing the Nation. She therefore urged
all Nigerians to remain prayerful and committed to building a better society
for our children. We all prayed together and I promised to be visiting her
every month.
“We thank all those who remain fervent in prayers for her
recovery and urge them to remain prayerful for the peaceful repose of her
soul.”
Outside headline and pix/Courtesy News Express
ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D•Pix late Prof. Dora Akunyili.
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