The Lagos State Government has concluded arrangements to begin free cancer, hypertension and diabetes screening on Nov. 25.
Dr. Yewande Adeshina, Special Adviser to Gov. Babatunde Fashola on Public Health, who gave the assurance in a statement on Thursday in Lagos said that the screening was part of the government’s Wellness Week slated to start from Nov. 25 and end on Nov. 29.
She said that the programme would be flagged off simultaneously in all the 20 local government areas and 37 local council development areas of the state.
Dr. Adeshina said that developing countries such as Nigeria were undergoing “a major demographic and epidemiological transition with high disease burden”.
She said that the screening was necessary in view of the health and economic loss hypertension, diabetes and cancer posed to individuals and governments.
She said that the goal of the programme was to create awareness about non-communicable diseases and detect them early.
According to her, these diseases are more expensive to treat if not detected early.
“These diseases constitute a major component of what is generally referred to as non-communicable diseases.
“They are regarded as chronic conditions that can cause death, dysfunction or impairment. They usually develop over relatively long periods.
“By the year 2020, it is predicted that non-communicable diseases will be causing seven out of every 10 deaths in developing countries, “she said.
Adeshina appealed to men and women of 18 years and above, resident in the state, to take advantage of the programme.