NAN-HG-11
Screening
By Chinenye Offor
Abuja, Oct. 24, 2017 (NAN) Dr Zainab Bagudu, wife of Kebbi Governor, on Tuesday said Medicaid Cancer Foundation had provided free cancer screening to 12,000 patients in the country since its inception.
Medicaid Cancer Foundation, a diagnostic centre, was established in 2009 by Bagudu to offers free test on cancer and other related ailments.
Bagudu, who disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, said the centre, however, started providing free cancer screening in 2010.
“We are able to do this because we have a diagnostic centre equipped with machines and skilled personnels to do the work.
“We recently opened a branch in Kebbi and this made it very easy for us to offer that aspect of screening.
“The foundation has been raising fund to help cancer patients,” she said, and urged philanthropists to donate to the centre to enable it expand its humanitarian services.
“ We have a form which patients fill for us to ascertain their eligibility for our services.
“We do not give cash to patients but rather pay for their medication and other bills directly to the institutions that are looking after them.
Bagudu urged government to educate people against superstitious belief on cancer, adding the government should encourage cancer patients to go for screening and treatment. (NAN)
CSO/HS/IM
Edited by Halima Sheji/Ibrahim Mammaga