REPORTER: UCHE NDEKE
The Wife of the Anambra State Governor Mrs. Nonye Soludo, has called on Nigerians to prioritise early detection of lung cancer and adopt healthy lifestyles to reduce the burden of the disease in the country.
Mrs. Soludo made the call in a in Awka to commemorate this year’s World Lung Cancer Day, observed annually on August 1.
She said this year’s theme, Stronger Together: United for Lung Cancer Awareness, underscores the need for governments, healthcare professionals, civil society organisations, the media, families and individuals to work collectively to promote awareness, early diagnosis, quality treatment and support for people living with lung cancer.
Mrs Soludo described lung cancer as one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide, noting that while tobacco smoking remains the leading risk factor, non-smokers are also at risk through prolonged exposure to second-hand smoke, air pollution, harmful chemicals and some genetic factors.
She urged Nigerians to seek prompt medical attention for persistent cough lasting more than three weeks, coughing up blood, chest pain, unexplained weight loss, shortness of breath, recurrent chest infections, persistent fatigue and hoarseness of voice, stressing that early diagnosis significantly improves treatment outcomes.
According to Mrs. Soludo, advances in modern medicine, including surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, targeted therapy and immunotherapy, have improved survival rates for patients diagnosed early.
She also encouraged the people to avoid tobacco use, minimise exposure to environmental pollutants, maintain healthy diets, engage in regular physical activity and undertake routine medical check-ups, including lung cancer screening for eligible high-risk individuals.
The Wife of the Governor reaffirmed the commitment of the Healthy Living with Nonye Soludo initiative to complement government efforts through sustained public health education, preventive healthcare campaigns and community-based advocacy designed to promote healthy living and reduce preventable diseases.
