By Mike Adeyemi
Leah Medical Centre, established by the First Lady of Kwara State, Mrs Omolewa Ahmed, was commissioned in Ilorin, the state capital, on Friday.
The ceremony recorded presence of eminent personalities within and from outside the state at the well-attended ceremony.
Among dignitaries in attendance were, the Secretary to the Kwara State Government, Alhaji Isiaka Gold; state Head of Service, Mrs Susan Modupe Oluwole and the Managing Director and Editor-in-Chief of National Pilot newspaper, Alhaji Billy Adedamola.
Also in attendance were, members of the State Executive Council, Kwara Lawmakers permanent secretaries, top government functionaries, women groups and clerics among others.
Speaking at the ceremony, the state Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, identified effective health care service delivery, accessible and affordable as pivotal to improving the well-being and welfare of people of the state.
The governor said he was highly delighted to be part of the commissioning of the medical centre, which is focused on specialised care of children and families.
The Governor who was represented by the Secretary to the Government of Kwara State, Alhaji Isiaka Gold congratulated his wife Deaconess Omolewa Ahmed, the founding Trustee of Leah Foundation, which birthed Leah Medical Centre.
Governor Ahmed urged the management of the Medical Centre to ensure qualitative healthcare service delivery and expand access to affordable healthcare.
Earlier, Mrs Ahmed expressed gratitude to God for the successful completion of the Leah Medical Centre.
The First Lady also thanked her husband for the support which helped in achieving the feat, just as she appreciated everyone that contributed in one way or the other to the success story.
Meanwhile, a Surgeon with Leah Medical Centre, Dr. Ayo Adesokan has said about 65 per cent of 18 million new cases of breast, cervical, colorectal, and oral cancers have been detected in sub-Sahara African.
He stated this on the occasion of 2019 World Cancer Day held in Ilorin, the state capital.
According to him, 2018 saw more than 18 million new cases of cancer worldwide of which nearly 5 million cases of breast, cervical colorectal and oral cancers could have been detected earlier.
He noted that prostate cancer is the commonest among men, urging male folks to go for screening at the Leah Medical Centre or any diagnostic facility to ascertain their status.
“Universally, majority of cancers are amenable to early detection. When cancer is detected at early stage with appropriate treatment – the chance of survival beyond five years is dramatically higher than when detected at a later stage when the tumor has spread, and the disease is more advanced,” the medical doctor explained.
