Friday, 29th March 2024
To guardian.ng
Search
Breaking News:

Polaris Bank seeks reduction of cancer through increased awareness, advocacy

By Stanley Akpunonu and Adaku Onyenucheya
15 November 2018   |   3:46 am
Committed to its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Polaris Bank has said that increased awareness, advocacy and support can reduce the incident of breast cancer in the country. Speaking at the 2018 Breast Cancer Survivors’ End-of-Year Get-Together, in Lagos, Group Managing Director, Polaris Bank, Tokunbo Abiru, reechoed their unwavering commitment to global and national efforts to stem…

Speaking at the 2018 Breast Cancer Survivors’ End-of-Year Get-Together, in Lagos, Group Managing Director, Polaris Bank, Tokunbo Abiru, reechoed their unwavering commitment to global and national efforts to stem breast cancer scourge among women.

Committed to its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Polaris Bank has said that increased awareness, advocacy and support can reduce the incident of breast cancer in the country.

Speaking at the 2018 Breast Cancer Survivors’ End-of-Year Get-Together, in Lagos, Group Managing Director, Polaris Bank, Tokunbo Abiru, reechoed their unwavering commitment to global and national efforts to stem breast cancer scourge among women.

He noted that healthcare is one of the pillars of Polaris Bank’s CSR stressing that its partnership with Care Organisation Public Enlightenment (COPE) would continue to ensure reduction of breast cancer scourge in the country through increased awareness, advocacy and support for both patients and survivors

Abiru who was represented by Directorate Head, Lagos Business, Segun Opeke, stated that the key objective of hosting the survivors was to afford them opportunity to publicly share their experience, educate more Nigerians about breast cancer, encourage women living with breast cancer to see the positive side of life, and to demystify the stigma associated with breast cancer.

He continued: “By coming out publicly to talk about their experience, our survivors and heroes have offered an enduring therapy to all persons currently battling the disease and a re-orientation to those who think it is a stigma to experience cancer. I daresay that the stigma of death on account of secrecy is indeed worse.”

The Polaris boss disclosed that over the last 10 years, the bank in partnership with C.O.PE has covered four key milestones namely prevention, detection, treatment and advocacy.

“These include provision of free screening opportunities for over 15,000 women including female staff members of the bank, and the donation of two ultra-modern breast cancer screening machines to enhance quality diagnosis and clinical practices. Others include sponsored treatment of over 30 indigent cancer patients, and the 10-km walk at two different locations within Lagos metropolis with over 2,500 participants to draw public attention to cancer scourge,” he said.

Similarly, President COPE, Ebunola Anozie, said the get-together was a platform to thank God for the life of the survivors and to appreciate Polaris Bank for its support to breast cancer patients in Nigeria.

“Polaris Bank has been with us for nearly 20 years now. For some time, we had difficulty getting the required support for the women. Some of our women used handkerchiefs; some used tissues to fill up their bras. But we thank God for the support of Polaris Bank. They were able to donate prosthesis that ensured they lived better lives”, Anozie added.

A breast cancer survivor, Nnenna Obasi, said she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2013, and by seeking immediate medical attention and with the support of family and organisations like COPE and Polaris Bank she overcame the scourge.

Obasi called on the need for early detection and immediate medical attention as well as healthy feeding and healthy lifestyle including staying joyful as important steps to overcome breast cancer scourge.

She commended Polaris Bank and COPE for the support, care and encouragement to get back their life.

0 Comments