By Jethro Yerga, Jalingo
A Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) known as FHAMAS Cancer Foundation situated in Jalingo is leaving no stone unturned towards seen that the deadly cancer disease which has claimed many lives in Nigeria is completely eliminated in the country.
The Chief Executive Officer and founder of the Foundation, Arc. Hadiza Bello Yero revealed the foundation’s intentions, plans and determination to get rid of the monster while speaking at the occasion of the World Cancer Day commemoration held at Trade Fair Complex Jalingo last week.
The CEO who spoke as a victim who had gone through the experience of cancer treatment said, her main aim of establishing the cancer foundation was to ensure that no one, especially in Taraba State go through the horrible situation she went through during her cancer treatment abroad.
“I passed through a terrible situation. I don’t want anybody to have such an experience and or die of cancer in this state. I have already laid out the plan for a world class cancer treatment center where I will replicate what I saw in Dubai where I went to receive my treatment.” She stated.
She said there is no comprehensive cancer center in the whole of Nigeria where one can go and have a dependable test to bring out early detection that would guaranteed proper treatment, hence the need to have one in Jalingo to help even big men who are victims of the disease to have their treatment without stress.
Arc. Hadiza who said the Foundation had commenced screening and treatment at its temporally site since February last year, also noted that she had acquired four hectares of land and had already done the building plan of the permanent site which according to her comprises of four floors, a special place that is meant for high powered individuals such as governors and president and a research center where teaming youth who are undergoing different related academic programs could sojourn to do their findings among many other apartments.
In her speech at the occasion, Wife of the Executive Governor of Taraba State, Barr. Ana Darius commended the CEO of FHAMAS Cancer Foundation for proven to be a caring mother by coming back to the generality of the people after she had gone through a horrible experience of cancer diagnosis.
Represented by Mrs Serah David Ibi, Her Excellency Barr. Ana Darius who is also the CEO and founder of Hope Afresh Foundation said she was glad that students, parents and all class of people were at the occasion and would do well by dissemination the information to even remote areas.
Also speaking, the National Coordinator of Civil Society for Cancer Eradication in Nigeria (CISCANEN) Comrade Elijah H.O Elijah, encouraged Tarabans to develop a health plan where they constantly check themselves through various tests and screening in order to live long.
He challenged people who give priority to driving the best cars and living in the best houses without little attention to their health plan to have a rethink in order to live long.
While appreciating the CEO PHAMAS Cancer Foundation, the president said he had travelled across the length and breadth of the country and some other places and had discovered that what is found with the people of Taraba at the Foundation was not obtainable anywhere in the country.
He stated that the Nigerial Cancer Society (NCS) and the National Civil Society for Cancer Eradication in Nigeria (CISCANEN) which are the only ones and the largest umbrella bodies in the country had long ago in their wisdom, aligned themselves with PHAMAS Cancer Foundation and are determined to support it to get rid of cancer in Taraba in particular and Nigeria at large.
In his remark, the Executive Chairman, Jalingo Local Government, NasuruBoboji who was the host of the event, pledged that at his individual level, he would continuously support the foundation with the total amount of 20,000 thousand naira for each month within a period of one year.
The chairman said the Taraba State AlGON would also looked into the project and find a way it would come in with its support especially that the beneficiaries of the foundation are from the various Local Governments.
In their separate goodwill messages, the Director General, Taraba State Agency for the Control of Aids, Dr. Garba and The Secretary, Primary Health Care Development Agency, Jauro Hassan all applaude the CEO for such a wonderful initiative and pledged that they would partner with the Foundation to provide quality health care to Tarabans.
