Centre for the diagnosis and treatment of residents afflicted with
cancer-related diseases as well as increase advocacy to prevent the
spread of the scourge.
Lagos State Governor Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode (right); Commissioner for
Health, Dr. Jide Idris (2nd right); Chief Executive, Bridgevine
Resources Limited, Mr. Okunade Ojengbede (2nd left) and a Staff of the
Mobile Clinic Cancer Centre during the donation of the Mobile Clinic
Cancer Centre at the Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja, on Wednesday,
February 14, 2018.
State Governor, Mr. Governor Ambode, who spoke while handing over the
facility to the representatives of the Committee Encouraging Corporate
Philanthropy (CECP), a nongovernmental organisation in the forefront
of cancer awareness, at the Lagos House in Alausa, Ikeja, said it was
in fulfillment of his promise he made in June 2016 to join the fight
against cancer.
He said the Mobile Clinic, the first of its kind in Africa, procured
at a cost of N365million was a confirmation of the commitment of his
administration to improve on the healthcare system and also give hope
to residents who may not have the wherewithal to go for diagnosis and
treatment.
"I want to thank the Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy
(CECP). Sometime in June 2016, they did ask me to support issues that
relate to cancer, but we decided that we are going to procure this
Mobile Cancer Centre.
The Mobile Clinic Cancer Centre handed over to the Committee
Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy (CECP) by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode
at the Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja, on Wednesday, February 14, 2018.
"What we have that we are donating today to this Committee is a Mobile
Clinic that deals with issues that relate to advocacy and treatment of
cancer patients because we do not have the financial resources to have
Cancer centres placed in all locations in Lagos we decided to go for
this Mobile Cancer centre. It's costing us N365million approximately
$1million. What this does is that we can reach out to every community
and every cancer patient; we can give hope back to those who are
hopeless.
"On a day like this, we extend the commitment of the State Government
to the people of Lagos to improve on our health system and also help
those that never imagined that there would be hope for them because
they have been afflicted with cancer and any other aliment that
relates to cancer," Governor Ambode said.
While congratulating the CECP for their tremendous passion in the
campaign against cancer, Governor Ambode said the facility would go a
long way to deal with the cancer scourge, adding that the long term
plan of his administration is to have e-mobile centres across the
State that would aid early detection, diagnosis and treatment of the
disease.
"I have done this and it is the first in Africa if not in the world
because it encompasses all other diagnostics that can bring about
cancer and that's why we are very proud to be associated with this
project and we can also say that ultimately we should have e-mobile
cancer centres placed all around Lagos, but we just feel by this
gesture we would reach out to everyone who have been left behind in
the community.
The Mobile Clinic Cancer Centre handed over to the Committee
Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy (CECP) by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode
at the Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja, on Wednesday, February 14, 2018.
"The operations of this particular unit would be supported by us and
then we would support the daily running to ensure that it is on the
road everyday looking for cancer patients to bring them back to life.
You can imagine the amount we have spent, it is just to bring hope to
the hopeless and bring back to those who really need it," the Governor
said.
Earlier, Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris said in a period
where communicable diseases like cancer were fast becoming epidemic,
the donation of the Mobile Cancer Centre was a direct response of the
present administration to provide a stop-gap.
In her remarks, Executive Secretary of CECP, Dr. Abia Nzelu thanked
Governor Ambode, saying that the gesture was a testament to the
Government's love for Lagosians as the donation was also coming on
February 14 celebrated worldwide as Valentine's Day.
"We are indeed grateful for the generosity you have shown and the love
and passion you have shown towards the good people of Lagos State,
particularly with regards to this cancer menace. We are particularly
that this is happening on a very special Day. Today is known as
Valentine's day; a day set aside to celebrate love and indeed, you
have shown that to the good people of Lagos in particular and indeed
to Nigerians in general," Nzelu said.
She said the Mobile Cancer Centre, the first of its kind in the world
and fitted with digital equipment, would tackle the double burden of
communicable and non communicable diseases with specific focus on
cancer.
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