RSG, Peter Odili Cardiovascular Hospital Move To Promote Early Breast Cancer Detection

Rivers State Government and the Peter Odili Cancer and Cardiovascular Hospital (POCCH) have launched a free breast cancer screening initiative to promote early breast cancer detection initiative.

According to available information, the initiative which targets 10,000 women aims at promoting early breast cancer detection, improving treatment and reducing deaths associated with the disease.

It will also provide up to 10,000 free mammograms, a screening procedure used to detect breast abnormalities before symptoms become apparent, particularly removing the financial barriers that prevent many women from accessing early diagnosis.

The Chief Executive Officer of Peter Odili Cancer and cardiovascular Hospital, Dr. Toni Rahme, disclosed this last Saturday during the hospital’s Pink October event in Port Harcourt, where cancer survivors were celebrated and those who had lost their lives to the disease in Rivers State were honoured.

Rahme said registration for the free mammogram programme had opened, with screening appointments to be scheduled subsequently, urging women across the State to register and take advantage of the opportunity.

He said the initiative was designed to encourage more women to undergo regular breast cancer screening, stressing that early detection and prompt treatment could significantly improve survival outcomes.

The hospital chief executive cited Nigeria’s estimated 44,000 new breast cancer cases and more than 21,000 deaths recorded in 2024, saying the figures underscored the urgent need for expanded screening programmes and improved access to cancer care.

“Behind these figures are women, families and futures. The cases identified at POCCH remind us why early detection matters.

“A mammogram can find changes before symptoms appear, and finding cancer early and treating it promptly can save lives,” he said.

Explaining the decision to target 10,000 free screenings, Rahme said the hospital wanted to ensure that the cost of mammography would not prevent women from knowing their breast cancer status.

“That is why we aim to provide up to 10,000 free mammograms: to remove a cost barrier and help more women get checked. Today, registration opens, and screening appointments will follow,” he said.

He urged women in Rivers State to take advantage of the programme, stressing that identifying breast cancer at an early stage could increase the chances of successful treatment and reduce avoidable deaths.

“To our women community, your health matters to us. Come forward. Hand by hand, let us walk beside you,” Rahme said.

He commended the Rivers State Government for supporting POCCH’s efforts to expand access to specialised healthcare, acknowledging the contributions of the State Ministry of Health and its commissioner, Dr. Vincent Wachukwu, to advancing the partnership.

Rahme said the collaboration between the State Government and the hospital reflected a shared commitment to bringing specialised medical services closer to residents and improving healthcare delivery.

“Across Nigeria, Health Invest Africa works with government to strengthen healthcare management and bring specialist care closer to communities.

“Here at Peter Odili Cancer and Cardiovascular Hospital, our partnership with the Rivers State Government turns that shared vision into service,” he said.

The POCCH chief executive also praised the hospital’s medical personnel and other workers for their dedication to patient care, describing their efforts as vital to giving cancer patients and their families hope.

He expressed optimism that the 10,000 free mammogram initiative would enable more women to detect breast cancer early, access timely treatment and survive the disease.

“There is a sound we want to hear more often at POCCH: the bell ringing in our oncology department, marking a new beginning, a new hope, a new life.

“Let this campaign give more women the chance to reach that bell, more children the chance to hold their mother’s hand, and more families the hope of many years together. That is the future we are working for. That is why we are here,” Rahme said.

John Bibor, Goodness Emelue & Chioma Wali