 |
United in the Battle Against Cancer: OIC and First Lady's Joint Effort |
This seminar, spanning two days, is a collaborative effort between the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the Nigerian First Lady's Office, and key OIC bodies, along with international partners. The focus is on pioneering strategies for cancer prevention, early detection, and treatment within the member states of the OIC in Africa.
Mrs. Oluremi Tinubu, the First Lady, has emphasized the need for a united front among stakeholders to combat cancer's devastating impact.
Her plea highlighted the opening of the High-level Seminar on Enhancing Cancer Awareness and Advocacy Initiatives across OIC Member States in Africa, which commenced this Wednesday in Nigeria's capital, Abuja.
This seminar, spanning two days, is a collaborative effort between the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the Nigerian First Lady's Office, and key OIC bodies, along with international partners. The focus is on pioneering strategies for cancer prevention, early detection, and treatment within the member states of the OIC in Africa.
Under the leadership of Mrs. Tinubu, the assembly of first ladies and various stakeholders pledged to push for more funding and impactful measures to lessen the burden of this disease, which takes a significant toll on lives, especially within the African continent.
In her opening address, Mrs. Tinubu praised the OIC for its initiative in holding such a crucial seminar and for selecting Nigeria as the venue.
Dr. Ahmad Kawesa Sengendo, representing the OIC Secretary General and serving as the Assistant Secretary General for Economic Affairs/Science & Technology, reaffirmed the OIC General Secretariat's dedication to supporting the ongoing battle against cancer.
He underscored the importance of cataloging and safeguarding the wealth of indigenous knowledge and botanical resources traditionally employed in cancer treatments within these nations.
The First Lady of Türkiye, Mrs. Emine Erdoğan, who graced the seminar as an honored guest, expressed her concerns over the neglect of age-old wisdom passed down through generations, now overshadowed by modern consumerism.
She reminisced about a time when Asia, Anatolia, and Africa practiced a lifestyle deeply rooted in therapeutic traditions.
"Traditionally, medical treatments were tailored to each person's unique constitution within the healing centers of Anatolia, situated along the caravan routes that not only exchanged cultures but also bore witness to the spread of diseases and the native lifestyles and diets that fortified against them," she remarked.
The event featured speeches from the first ladies of Türkiye, Sierra Leone, and The Gambia; the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the Federal Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, and the Speaker of the Nigerian House of Representatives, among others.
As reported by Daily Trust, the first ladies collectively endorsed the Abuja Declaration on the First Ladies' Initiative for Cancer Control, which Mrs. Tinubu read aloud and was subsequently signed by all the attending first ladies.
