Nigeria Newspapers Online

During the week, Lagos Passionate Lions Club, under District 404B2 of the International Association of Lions Club, visited Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi-araba, Lagos State, presenting gift items for children suffering childhood cancer.At the event was the chartered president of the club, Lion Menwa Okeke, who spoke on childhood cancer, ” There said wherever there is a need, there is a lion, hence we decided to visit children living with cancer but under treatment at the Alima Atta Oncology ward, which is located inside the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH). Childhood cancer is not a joke and children are liable to get it. There are various types of cancer and they can affect any part of the body. So we members of Lagos Passionate Lions Club decided to use this opportunity to reach out to some of these children and put a smile on their faces by showing them and their parents love especially in these trying times in the economy. To support these children we made our donations through our partners the Dorcas Cancer Foundation. The items includes care kits and medical consumables for the children undergoing treatments.”Also speaking at the event is the chairperson of the event, Lion Uche Chigozie Okeke, She spoke on the need to create more awareness on this disease. “We in Lagos Passionate Lions Club would love to make more awareness of this illness to the public because children with this disease need care and attention. The thing is if this disease can be diagnosed on time, I believe it can be prevented and cured.” She spoke further on how to avoid such diseases: “Childhood cancers can be avoided by adopting healthy lifestyles including eating healthy foods; living in safe environments, staying away from air pollutions such as cigarette smoke and the likes, aside from that we should also avoid polluted areas such as industrial areas and petrol stations which can also help in prevention of cancers and lastly this is to all parents, we should avoid or limit the use of phones with children as well it s very important we know this.” She said.In conclusion, clinical coordinator of the Dorcas Cancer Foundation, Kemi Atolagbe spoke about their foundation and appreciated Lagos Passionate Lions Club for their partnership, “Dorcas Cancer Foundation is an NGO that works with children living with cancer. We help these children in terms of treatment and we also encourage early detection because most of the time the children gets to the hospital late and by then their stage is far gone. Majority of these children during crisis are taken to the hospital but are being treated for the wrong thing such as malaria, unfortunately, when they realize the real illness and get to the pediatrician oncologist it becomes too late.” The Dorcas Cancer Foundation also help with treatment navigation process. We do follow up with the children while they undergo treatment, so they don’t feel abandoned. In our foundation, we have various programs example is TAPS, this is treatment access and partway support, we help by providing and supporting treatments for these children when there is sufficient funds. This is where lions club comes in because we can’t do it alone, they have been a source of blessing to the foundation and for that we say thank you to them for their support. We look forward to partnering with them more in the nearest future.” She said.