As the world commemorates the 2026 World Cancer Day, a medical expert at the Ibom Specialist Hospital, Dr. Precious Obidike, has renewed calls for increased public awareness, preventive health practices, and compassionate support for cancer patients and survivors.
Dr. Obidike emphasized that awareness remains one of the most effective tools in the global fight against cancer, noting that many cancer-related deaths could be prevented through early detection, timely medical intervention, and improved public understanding of risk factors and warning signs.
She highlighted the importance of preventive measures such as personal and environmental hygiene, healthy lifestyle choices, and regular medical check-ups. According to her, these practices play a critical role in reducing cancer risk and improving overall health outcomes.
The medical expert also stressed the need for routine cancer screenings, particularly for breast, cervical, prostate, and colorectal cancers, describing them as life-saving interventions that should not be neglected. She encouraged cancer patients and survivors to remain hopeful, adding that advances in medical science have significantly improved cancer treatment and survival rates over the years.
World Cancer Day is observed annually on February 4 and serves as a global platform to unite individuals, organizations, and governments in raising awareness, promoting education, and advocating improved access to quality cancer care. Our correspondent, Esther Otoyo, reports that the day underscores the collective responsibility in the fight against cancer.