Maiden edition of #GivingTuesdayNG yields first MCC

Africa’s most populous nation, Nigeria, joined the global celebration of #GivingTuesday in a star-studded Concert / Banquet that held at Eko Hotel and Suite, Lagos, on Tuesday, December 8, 2015. 

The well-attended event which was broadcast live by the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) precedes the Presidential Banquet scheduled to take place in Abuja on Tuesday the 22nd of December 2015. The Vice President of Nigeria who is also a Patron of #GivingTuesday will address the grand finale in Abuja.

The #GivingTuesday event in Lagos the commercial capital of Nigeria gave a boost to the Big War Against Cancer and exhibited the philanthropic nature of Nigerians through donations and pledges made towards the first sets of Mobile Cancer Centres by Nigerian philanthropist. Specifically, Tunde Folawiyo, Chairman of the Folawiyo group and Aigboje Aig – Imoukhuede, President of the Nigerian Stock Exchange and Co-Founder of Access Bank Plc pledged to jointly provide funds for the first Mobile Cancer Centre in Nigeria. The President of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, who was represented by Zouera Youssoufou, the MD/CEO of Dangote Foundation also pledged to support the initiative as it aligns to their objectives of improving the health of Nigerians.

Other dignitaries at the event were:  Bode Akindele (one of Nigeria’s foremost philanthropists), Prof. Ben Nwabueze, Adedoyin Adeyinka (MD/CEO, Acorn Petroleum Plc), Hayford Alile (DG Emeritus of NSE), Adebisi Abiola (wife of the great philanthropist, M.K.O. Abiola),  Opral Benson (Yeye Oge of Lagos), Maiden Alex-Ibru (Publisher of the Guardian Newspaper),  Sam Amuka-Pemu (Publisher of Vanguard Newspaper), Kemi Nelson, Pastor Taiwo and Mrs. Nomthi Odukoya (Fountain of Life Church),  Adetutu Adeleke (the first female CEO of a publicly quoted company in Nigeria), Deola Sagoe, Prof. Pat Utomi, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, FCA and Bolanle Patience Ambode (represented), Pius Akinyelure (National Vice Chairman of APC), Audu Maikori (President of Chocolate City Group and co-Chairman of the LOC), among others. The Masters of Ceremony were Omotayo Omotosho (former DG of Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation who is also the Chairman of the Local Organising Committee for #GivingTuesdayNg),  Omotunde David, popularly known as “Lolo 1” of Wazobia FM, and Olisa Adibua (Veteran On-Air-Personality).

The main focus of this year’s #GivingTuesdayNg  is the BIG WAR Against Cancer in Nigeria, the flagship focal cause of CECP, which is aimed at taking cancer prevention to the grassroots through the use of Mobile Cancer Centres (MCC).

Globally, over 8 million people died from cancer in 2014, of which half died prematurely (aged 30-69).About 70% of these deaths occurred in developing nations like Nigeria. To put this into perspective, 1.1 million people died of Tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS killed 1.2 million people and malaria killed less than 500,000 people globally, during the same period. This means that globally, cancer kills about three times the number of people who die of tuberculosis, HIV and malaria combined.

Sadly, WHO data shows that within four years Nigeria has had a significant increase in the incidence of deaths from the common cancers.  In 2008 breast cancer killed 30 Nigerian women daily; by 2012 this had risen to 40 women daily. In 2008 prostate cancer killed 14 Nigerian men daily; by 2012 this had risen to 26 men daily. In 2008 liver cancer killed 24 Nigerians daily; by 2012 this had risen to 32 daily.

Sadly, Nigeria has no Mobile Cancer Centres; therefore, most Nigerians have no access to basic cancer screening. Likewise, Nigeria has no Comprehensive Cancer Centre; therefore, most Nigerian cancer patients have no access to optimal cancer treatment. Consequently, Nigerians spend over $200 million annually on treatment abroad. This amount is sufficient to establish three Comprehensive Cancer Centres or to acquire 300 Mobile Cancer Centres annually. 

Moderating the donation session of the programme, former Nigeria Ambassador to United Kingdom, Christopher Kolade, said the Mobile Cancer Centre route is the best way to reach as many Nigerians as possible.

In her tribute to those who have died of cancer, the Publisher of the Guardian, Lady Maiden Ibru, said that cancer is a tough disease to fight. She recounted the experience of her family when her late husband was battling with cancer and implored everyone including the government to support the Big War Against Cancer.

Vincent Oyo, husband of the late Oluremi Oyo, who died of cancer in October 2014, said something drastic must be done to silence the ravaging disease. According to him, if 1.2 million Nigerians donated N100 by texting ACT to 44777 (all networks), we could acquire an MCC. He therefore, advocated that all Nigerians should tell at least 50 people on their contact lists to donate through this platform, so that this critical mass could be achieved.

The story of what led to the reduction in deaths from cervical cancer in Nigeria underscores the fact that with concerted and sustained effort the BIG WAR against cancer can be won.

CECP’s operational partner in the BIGWAR is the National Cancer Prevention Programme (NCPP), a non-governmental initiative, which pioneered community-based mass cervical cancer screening campaign in Nigeria. Since its establishment in 2007, over 100,000 Nigerians have been directly screened and treated and through the awareness created, the NCPP is helping to protect millions of Nigerians from cancer.

This sacrificial effort was made in spite of its limited resources. It contributed to a 15% reduction of cervical cancer deaths in Nigeria, from 26 women dying daily to 22 daily, between 2008 and 2012 (WHO data). The significance of this modest improvement is underlined by the fact that the WHO had projected a 25% increase in cervical cancer deaths within ten years, in the absence of widespread intervention.

The improvement in cervical cancer survivorship in Nigeria is proof positive that we can win the BIG WAR if we could scale up the effort.