The Lagos State Government has increased the advocacy to prevent  cancer scourge by donating  a Mobile Cancer Centre for the diagnosis and treatment of residents afflicted with cancer-related diseases .

Handing over the facility to the representatives of the Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy (CECP), a nongovernmental organisation in the forefront of cancer awareness , the  state  governor Akinwunmi  Ambode,  said it was in fulfillment of the promise he made in June 2016 to join in the fight against cancer.

The Mobile Clinic, he said was the first of its kind in Africa adding that it was procured at a cost of N365million.

“This is a confirmation of the commitment of this administration to improve on the healthcare system and also give hope to residents who may not have the wherewithal to go for diagnosis and treatment.”

“I want to thank the Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy (CECP). Sometime in June 2016, they did ask me to support issues that relate to cancer, but we decided that we are going to procure this Mobile Cancer Centre.

“What we have that we are donating today to this Committee is a Mobile Clinic that deals with issues that relate to advocacy and treatment of cancer patients because we do not have the financial resources to have Cancer centres placed in all locations in Lagos we decided to go for this Mobile Cancer centre. It’s costing us N365million approximately $1million. What this does is that we can reach out to every community and every cancer patient; we can give hope back to those who are hopeless.

While congratulating the CECP for their tremendous passion in the campaign against cancer, Governor Ambode said the facility would go a long way to deal with the cancer scourge, adding that the long term plan of his administration is to have e-mobile centres across the State that would aid early detection, diagnosis and treatment of the disease.

“I have done this and it is the first in Africa if not in the world because it encompasses all other diagnostics that can bring about cancer and that’s why we are very proud to be associated with this project and we can also say that ultimately we should have e-mobile cancer centres placed all around Lagos, but we just feel by this gesture we would reach out to everyone who have been left behind in the community.

Earlier, Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris said in a period where communicable diseases like cancer were fast becoming epidemic, the donation of the Mobile Cancer Centre was a direct response of the present administration to provide a stop-gap.

In her remarks, Executive Secretary of CECP, Dr. Abia Nzelu thanked Governor Ambode, saying that the gesture was a testament to the Government’s love for Lagosians

She said the Mobile Cancer Centre, would tackle the double burden of communicable and non communicable diseases with specific focus on cancer.