Promotion of cancer awareness took center stage at the High-Level Seminar on Promoting Cancer Awareness and Advocacy Programs in the OIC African Member States, which commenced on Wednesday, May 15, 2024, in Abuja, Nigeria.
The two-day event, sponsored by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in collaboration with the Office of the First Lady of Nigeria, relevant OIC institutions, and international partners, focused on innovative approaches to cancer prevention, early detection, and treatment in OIC African Member States. Under the leadership of Nigeria’s First Lady, H.E. Senator Oluremi Tinubu, participating First Ladies and stakeholders advocated for increased funding and comprehensive efforts to combat the disease that claims hundreds of thousands of lives annually in Africa.
In her welcome remarks, Mrs Tinubu praised the OIC for organizing this crucial seminar and selecting Nigeria as the host country. She emphasized the need for closer collaboration among all stakeholders to fight the scourge of cancer effectively.
The representative of the OIC Secretary-General, H.E. Dr. Ahmad Kawesa Sengendo, Assistant Secretary-General for Economic Affairs/Science & Technology, reaffirmed the OIC General Secretariat’s commitment to supporting the fight against cancer until it is eradicated. He stressed the importance of identifying, documenting, and preserving indigenous knowledge and plant species used in traditional cancer treatments across OIC countries.
The First Lady of Türkiye, H.E. Mrs. Emine Erdoğan, attending as a Special Guest, lamented the loss of traditional healing practices due to modern consumption culture. She reminisced about a time when medicinal practices were personalized according to an individual’s temperament in healing homes situated along trade routes in Asia, Anatolia, and Africa. These routes, she noted, not only spread cultures but also epidemic diseases and indigenous dietary practices that once protected populations.
The seminar featured addresses 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.
The event culminated in the adoption of the Abuja Declaration on First Ladies’ Leadership on Cancer Control. The declaration, read out by the First Lady of Nigeria and signed by all participating First Ladies, underscored their commitment to leading cancer control initiatives.
This seminar underscored the critical role of political will and leadership in the fight against cancer. It highlighted the necessity for a coordinated approach involving various stakeholders, including government bodies, international organizations, and the private sector, to address cancer comprehensively.
