COSON joins the war against Cancer in Nigeria

Okoroji

The music industry in Nigeria is set to mobilize its big guns in an unprecedented war against the medical scourge called cancer in Nigeria. The industry which has lost a number of its top stars to the disease has reached an understanding with the Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy (CECP-Nigeria) –a platform promoted by Nigeria’s Organized Private Sector- to form a major partnership to halt the near uncontrollable spread of all forms of the terrible disease across Nigeria.

 

The partnership was consolidated in the second week of January, 2014 after several meetings between representatives of CECP Nigeria and the leadership of Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON) at which different battle strategies in the war against cancer were hatched. While the CECP team to the meetings was led by Dr. Abia Nzelu, the committee’s executive secretary, the COSON team was headed by the society’s chairman, Chief Tony Okoroji.

 

Said Chief Okoroji after the meetings, ‘We will be irresponsible not to join this battle after the frightening statistics that have been brought to our attention. While our country is giving a lot of attention to the battle against HIV/AIDS, cancer is wreaking havoc across our land. With 240 Nigerians dying every day from this disease, we are all practically on death row - no one is spared. From the information available from the experts, a lot of the deaths are preventable if the disease is discovered early. The unfortunate fact however is that there are virtually no facilities in the country to detect the disease on time so many are dying without them or their relations even knowing what is killing them or they find out too late. The good news is that we can do something to significantly reduce this crazy death figures. At COSON, we plan to mobilize all ‘mobilizables’ in Nigeria to take action immediately.’

 

COSON is geared towards joining CECP in the effort to acquire thirty-seven (37) Mobile Cancer Centres (MCCs), one for each state of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The MCCs will facilitate a nation-wide cancer screening/treatment campaign so that every Nigerian can have a fighting chance in the battle against cancer.

 

A mobile cancer centre is a clinic on wheels, in which screening, follow-up and several forms of treatment (including surgeries), can take place. It includes facilities for mammography, colonoscopy, colposcopy, cryotherapy, and sonology as well as laboratory and operating theatre.

 

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has created a unique short code for those who want to contribute to this effort. By texting “CANCER” or any other chosen word to ‘’44777”, a person can contribute N100/sms towards this cause. Interswitch Limited has also established a code - “777526” - for donations via ATM or online at www.quickteller.com. Every right thinking Nigerian is today urged to contribute to this cause which might save our lives or the lives of some people we love dearly. COSON requests that we all encourage our friends and family members to contribute.

 

Cancer is the number one killer of mankind; it kills more people than HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis combined. One out of every three persons will be diagnosed with cancer, which now accounts for one out of every four deaths. Nigeria now has the eleventh lowest life expectancy in the world. Most Nigerians do not live to retire, to attend their children’s graduations or weddings, to see their grandchildren, or to enjoy the fruits of their labour. Cancer is a major contributor to untimely death in Nigeria. Cancer affects every ramification of life, all age groups and every social class. It has cut short the lives and careers of many gifted and talented professionals. Two past presidents of Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria (PMAN), Sonny Okosun and Mustapha Amego had their lives cut short by cancer. According to global statistics, over 100,000 Nigerians are diagnosed with cancer every year, and 80,000 die (10 deaths every hour!). 4 out of every 5 cases of cancers in Nigeria die (the worst in the whole world). Fortunately, most of these cancer deaths are preventable.

 

For instance, sixty years ago, 1 out of 3 people diagnosed with cancer survived in the United States. Today, 2 out of 3 will survive cancer. According to a new report by the American Association for Cancer Research, there are currently nearly 14 million cancer survivors living in the US and the cancer survivor population in America is expected to rise to 18 million by the year 2022. When the U.S. Congress passed the National Cancer Act back in 1971, that number was only 3 million. Acquisition of these MCCs will greatly improve the cancer survival rate in Nigeria, through better and earlier diagnosis.

 

COSON Chairman, Chief Tony Okoroj iurges every Nigerian to rise up to this challenge. In the words of Chief Okoroji,‘Let us not bother with the blame game. As the activities involving COSON and the other partners in this war are rolled out, let us participate fully because we may be saving our own lives.’