Still in her usual practice of creating awareness that cancer is not a death sentence on any woman, the Ondo State First Lady, Mrs. Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu has taken BRECAN advocacy to the legislature.
The founder of the Breast Cancer Association of Nigeria (BRECAN), the First Lady, who spoke to legislators while on a visit to the Ondo State House of Assembly, Akure, campaigned for the need to allocate funds for cancer control in order to ensure access to health for cancer patients.
In the same vein, Mrs. Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, who survived breast cancer 20 years ago, stated that the purpose of the visit was to intimate the lawmakers of BRECAN’s plan to come up with a bill on cancer control and establishment of a cancer treatment centre in Ondo State.’
According to her, the scourge of cancer which is ravaging thousands of women and sending them to early graves must be stopped.
She said, “I am deeply honoured to be here to witness this epoch making history. Coming here today has been a dream that has become a reality. In 2005, I was among the international breast cancer advocates that walked through the allies of congress. As an African, I was invited to give a face to the outcome of researches in the laboratories of America on breast cancer.
“It has always been my dream that someday I will be at the National Assembly to lobby our senators. Charity they say begins at home – this is our own National Assembly in Ondo State. BRECAN is here today to tell you that we need to do something to save the lives of our women who do not have money for diagnosis. We have come to let you know that there is need to have a cancer control plan in place. We need to have a robust cancer control plan. BRECAN plans to come up with a bill on cancer control and for the establishment of cancer treatment centre in Ondo State.”
An impressed Deputy Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Hon. Iroju Ogundeji, praised the First Lady on her drive to put an end to the scourge of cancer. He also promised that the House would give accelerated passage to the proposed bill on cancer control.
“Before your address, I thought breast cancer is not curable but with your address, I now know that with adequate care, breast cancer can be controlled. It is in our interest that breast cancer should not be a death sentence to any woman in Ondo State. We are assuring you that whenever the executive is bringing their appropriation bill to the House and cancer control is included; you will have no difficulty with us and we will give it accelerated passage.”