Nigeria Reinforces ACS-Driven Global Media Coverage of NCDs and Tobacco as the Leading Risk Factor

The Nation

Olayinka Olegbile

Cancer:  A Battle on the Front Burner 

Lagos, Nigeria — In the past, cancer, diabetes and a few other non communicable diseases (NCDs) used to be regarded as diseases of the affluent and the West. However, recent researches have revealed a new trend. The diseases have crossed the ‘borders’. New parts of the world have become vulnerable due to changes in lifestyles, advent of technology, changing environment and other risk factors.

For instance, it has become easier to change television channels and adjust volume levels while wrapped in the warmth of one’s bed, sofa or even while in the bathtub. Thanks to technology, you no longer have to walk up to the TV set to do that. As much as technology has aided humanity it has also spun several other things and changed the way the world does its things. The result of the near sedentary life that people now live is that NCDs have continued to fester. Rather than walk, cycle or jog, people now hop into automobiles; remote- controlled television, radio, cars and other fads have become the new way of life. People no longer eat well cooked food; they have turned to fast foods and carbonated drinks. All these, according to experts, contribute to the rise of non- communicable diseases.

The need to call attention to this led the American Cancer Society (ACS) in June to host a meeting of cancer survivors, non-governmental organisations and journalists. Participants were drawn from about 50 countries of the world as a prelude to the September United Nations (UN) High Level Meeting on NCDs at the United Nations. The ACS explained the motive for the theme of the meeting which was: We can, We should, We will conquer Cancer. According to Alessandra Durstine, its Vice President, Regional Strategies, it was an opportunity to put under scrutiny "the importance of cancer control and to give a global voice to those affected by cancer and other NCDs."

In a report to the 66th General Assembly, the Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon who described NCDs as "a rising epidemic" had warned that "of the 57 million global deaths in 2008, 36 million, or 63 percent, were due to non-communicable diseases, principally cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancers and chronic respiratory diseases. Total deaths from non-communicable diseases are projected to rise to 52 million in 2030. The rapidly growing magnitude of such diseases is driven in part by population ageing, the negative impact of urbanisation and globalisation of trade and marketing.

However, despite this frightening growing statistics of NCDs, world leaders have not paid enough attention to it as much as is done to polio, HIV and AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. This, according to Nathan Grey, National Vice President of ACS, is intolerable. He called for a change of direction and focus, adding that "cancer is still under reported and underfunded," especially in the developing world where it has become big threat and it is becoming a pandemic.

At the forum, various forms of cancer survivors gave testimonies of their treatments and survival. They were stories of valiant hopes and determination which were meant to convince world leaders that there was an urgent need to make useful provision for the diagnoses and treatment of cancer and other NCDs. Nigeria was represented by three Cancer Ambassadors: Princess Nikky Onyeri, who is the founder of Nikky Breast Cancer Foundation, Seun Akioye, an anti-tobacco activist with the Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN) and Oluwakemi Oyegbile, a breast cancer survivor.

Beyond the statistics given by various experts at the meeting, it was heart lifting to listen to the stories of the survivors and see the glow of hope and determination in their eyes as they called on world leaders to pay attention to cancer in their countries. Mrs. Oyegbile in narrating her experience said a few years ago when her doctor diagnosed her and told her she had breast cancer, she felt bad, "It was really traumatic. I asked Why me? Is this the end? I felt terrible and worried thinking it was the end of my life. I cried the whole day and wondered what I’ve done wrong to deserve this? I asked God why he allowed this to happen to me. I was distressed and felt very bad."

Getting treatment and prescribed drugs was tough and expensive. She had to travel to Ibadan, Oyo State from Lagos on a weekly basis. In fact, at a point it was twice a week. This, according to her, took a heavy toll on her family life, health and finances. In an interview with the UN Radio in New York, she explained that the toughest part of the experience was "Going through mastectomy. Going through the treatment was another ordeal; the chemotherapy, radiotherapy and all were stressful. I had to spend a lot to undergo the treatment. However, I was happy that my own was in situ, meaning it could be treated. It served as a source of hope that it could be treated."

Stories such as hers were the anchor which the meeting hoped to use to build momentum to make world leaders who will be meeting at the UN headquarters in September to take the treatment of cancer and other non-communicable diseases more seriously. The Nigerian delegation which later met with the country’s Permanent Representative at the UN, Prof Joy Ogwu, enlisted her support to ensure that President Goodluck Jonathan attends the meeting and ensure that the country puts the issue of NCDs on the front burner.

Prof Ogwu said cancer was not strange to her. She understands the havoc it does owing to the fact that her own father died of cancer. She pledged her support for the crusade and promised that she would try her best to support the cause. Prominent Nigerians who have been felled by cancer include Chief Gani Fawehinmi, Sonny Okosuns, Tina Onwudiwe and Yinka Craig.

In demonstration of how important the UN takes the issue, the deputy secretary general, Dr. Asha-Rose Migiro, enjoined journalists to help in spreading the word to all about the importance of changing lifestyles and correcting myths while discrediting misconceptions. In emphasising the importance of the media, she said, "The media is critical to any public health campaign. This is especially true for non-communicable diseases. Because there are so many myths that need to be corrected. And there are, at times, forces behind those myths trying to hide the truth." She called on the media to keep people informed and aware of the risk factors of the NCDs.

Dr. Migiro added, "Unlike sicknesses caused by a mosquito, a virus or an infection, NCDs are linked to factors like food, tobacco, environmental pollution and a lack of exercise. A major part of our campaign will be to promote exercise, reduce excessive consumption of alcohol and cut the use of tobacco products." She called on governments around the world to rise up to the occasion by encouraging healthy habits among the citizenry through their policies.

David Bloom, a professor of economics and demography at Harvard University, USA, in calculating the cost of NCDs said it "will evolve into a staggering economic burden in the coming years. It’s a huge impediment to the mitigation of poverty." According to him, over $300 billion was spent in 2010 to treat cancer while obstructive pulmonary disease, which is often linked with smoking tobacco, costs the world $400 billion a year. In his contribution, Cary Adams of the Union for International Cancer Control warned that people were "getting fatter, lazier, smoking too much tobacco, and eating unhealthy food." He called for a change of attitude to stem the growth of cancer and other non-communicable diseases.

John Seffrin, the chief executive officer of the ACS, the conveners of the summit said, "It is the poorest people in the poorest nations that suffer the most," adding that more than 80 percent of non-communicable diseases occur in low and middle-income countries

With this grim picture, is Africa prepared for what is ahead? Onyeri who runs a cancer foundation in Abuja is of the opinion that "too much attention has been focused on such other diseases like HIV and AIDS and malaria to the detriment of such other killer diseases like cancer, diabetes, heart diseases otherwise known as NCDs. However, as we build on education and awareness, l know that this story will change especially with the attention that the UN High Level Summit on NCDs will bring to bear on countries’ activities towards NCDs."

As world leaders prepare to meet on this crucial health issue in September, all eyes and hopes would be on them to bring succour to NCD patients. 

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[Shirish]

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[tina armstrong-ogbonna]

just like u said before nigerians believed dat cancer,diabetis and some others diseases were for the rich and affluent but now even d poorest are feeling the scourge.mainly peoples life-style is key to non-communicable diseases like diabetes,hypertension and others.the need to enlighten the people thru the media is important to reduce the number of death associated to these diseases.look forward to reading ur report after the UN newyork summit on NOn-communicable disease.keep up the good work.yes we can.