Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, has called on Nigerians to always engage in physical exercises to reduce the risk of having the deadly disease.
According to him, any form of physical activity that is consistent will promote healthy living, reduce obesity and sedentary lifestyle, and other non-communicable diseases.
The Minister made this call in a message delivered in Abuja on Sunday to commemorate the 2018 World Cancer Day which is marked globally on February 4th every year.
Prof. Adewole, said this year’s theme “We can. I can”, was geared towards exploring individual and collective drive in reducing the global burden of cancer.
“The campaign outlined actions that communities and individuals could take to save lives, achieve greater equity in cancer care and make fighting cancer a priority at the highest political level,” he said.
On individual’s role in fighting cancer, Adewole said: “Individuals could make healthy lifestyle choices by engaging in weekly physical activities for at least two and half hours for adult and an hour for children.
“Other lifestyle modifications that the minister mentioned included avoiding tobacco smoking and chewing, eating a healthy diet, limiting alcohol intake and staying safe under the sun.”
He also emphasized high index of suspicion for early symptoms and signs of cancer was key, because “finding cancer early makes it easier to treat and cure.”
Reeling out roles expected from communities in the fight against Cancer, the Minister praised various organisations and professional bodies that have dedicated sporting programme not to rest on their oars.
Adewole also said that communities should dispel myths that led to stigma and discrimination against people living with cancer among them.
He called on governments to commit adequate resources to reduce cancer death and provide better quality of life for patients and survivors.
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