UNIBEN Medical Students Hold Cancer Awareness Day

THE University of Benin (UNIBEN), Medical Students Association recently held its Cancer Day to create awareness about the disease and to educate the people, including students on how to handle it.

Organised by the Anti-Drug Misuse and Abuse Programme (ADMAP), the event, which drew students from all levels of the medical department, including secondary school students witnessed Mrs. Benedicta Oboh, a cancer survivor, speak on the disease.

Speaking on how she overcame the dreaded disease, Mrs. Oboh, said, “I didn’t feel any of the nausea and vomiting symptoms associated with chemotherapy. I ate well during the treatment. I kept telling myself that I would live to take care of my children. I kept having a positive face towards God and He didn’t fail me.”

Addressing guests, the ADMAP chairman, Isaac Ehimen, stated that when persons hear of cancer, negative thoughts and fear usually come to mind. But relating to Mrs. Benedicta, he said the battle against cancer is not beyond us.

Dr. Joseph Adewole of University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) drew the attention of guests to the different forms of cancer and their treatment.

He disclosed that smoking, alcohol and obesity increase the risk of occurrence, adding that students should be mindful of what they eat.

He stated that people should not for the sake of wanting to feel big patronise public restaurants on routine basis.
Dr. Comfort Izzah, an Oncology pharmacist with UBTH, advised that going natural is a major way to overcome the disease. She added that the benefits of eating fruits and avoiding synthetic products as much as possible would make most people not to have the disease.