As Nigeria goes pink for cancer

Nigerians of different religion, tribe and ethnicity are expected to come together in solidarity to rid Nigeria of late cancer detection.
According to a survey by World Health Organization, about 90 Nigerians die daily from a preventable death of cancer. These deaths can be prevented when certain measures are taken at the right time.
For this reason, in Sokoto yesterday, my foundation, Mariya Tambuwal Development Initiative (MTDI) organized a rally with a vision of crushing late cancer detection in Nigeria through mass mobilization.

We have come to realise that there's no better way to reduce the number of tragic deaths of preventable cancer than to engage individuals in mass mobilization and creating awareness on the signs, symptoms, curse, cure and how prevention of cancer can be done.
Cancer is too deadly to be neglected. We have lost so many distinguished Nigerians to this deadly disease. Cancer took away our dear President Umaru Musa Yar'adua when Nigerians needed him most. Cancer took away my elder sister, the indomitable Dora Akunyili who fought for the safety of people's lives while serving in NAFDAC and also whose zeal for a new Nigeria gave birth to the Rebranding Nigeria initiative. Cancer took away a distinguished human and civil rights lawyer also known as Senior Advocate of the masses in person of Gani Fawehinmi. Cancer took away our mummy, former First Lady Maryam Babangida.

Cancer took away my sister who was also my very good neighbor, Clara Oshiomole popularly known as the Jewel of the lion. A woman whose kind-heartedness made her to set up an NGO before her death, for maternal and child care, because she didn't want others to experience what she went through when prevention can be done at an early stage. Cancer took away a prominent Nigerian politician, Olushola Saraki (Oloye); a man whose contribution for Nigerians democracy still lives on even after his death.
Although cancer is a deadly disease, it can be cured when prevention is done at an early stage. A two time Grammy award winner, Melissa Etheridge discovered a lump in her left breast in 2004, which was later confirmed as cancer. Years later, after undergoing treatment, Etheridge is now cancer free. Lance Armstrong was diagnosed with testicular cancer in 1996 which was learnt to have spread to his brain, lungs, and abdomen. Armstrong began chromatography immediately, and in less than a year he was declared cancer free.

There are so many individuals who battled with cancer and still survived because necessary measures were taken at the appropriate time. This is what we want to achieve. We want instances where someone can rush to the hospital for diagnosis when he or she noticed some signs of cancer. We want instances where a certain Jamila faruk from Illela will be invited to a World Assembly to tell the world how she realised her cancer, fought it, and her life after survival.
Join us and be one of the millions of whom have made stride to end cancer. Join us for the fight for humanity in creating awareness. Join us at MTDI in supporting those whose shoulders needed us most.
Long live MTDI
Long live Sokoto State
Long live Nigeria
Mariya Aminu Waziri Tambuwal
Wife of Sokoto State Governor
Founder and Chief Executive Director of the Mariya Tambuwal Development Initiative (MTDI)