THE Official Commissioning and Hand Over OF the Mobile Cancer Centre to the Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy (CECP Nigeria)
REMARKS BY HIS EXCELLENCY GOVERNOR AKINWUNMI AMBODE AT THE Official CommissionING AND HAND OVER OF the Mobile Cancer Centre to the Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy (CECP Nigeria) AT THE LAGOS HOUSE, ALAUSA IKEJA ON FEBRUARY 14, 2018
PROTOCOL
It is with great pleasure that I formally present and launch the Mobile Cancer Centre also called “PinkCruise”.
Today is a significant milestone in the life of our healthcare delivery system as we step to a new level with the Mobile Cancer Centre, which would bring care, succour and enhanced standard of health to millions of Lagosians is being presented today.
On June 14, 2016, I invited a few spirited and philanthropic individuals to join me and the State to raise funds to acquire Mobile Cancer Centres to support the “Big War Against Cancer”. 20 months after, our efforts and that of other well-meaning individuals has resulted in the acquisition of 4 Mobile Cancer Centres, the first of its kind in Nigeria.
The BIG WAR Against Cancer in Nigeria is a laudable initiative, aimed at establishing effective infrastructure for cancer care, by providing at least one Mobile Cancer Centres (MCC) for each State and a Comprehensive Cancer Centre (CCC) for each of the six Zones, of Nigeria.
Of the Four of the pilot set of MCC now in Nigeria, one will be stationed in Lagos and will attend to the healthcare needs of our people. The other MCC’s would operate from Three other selected cities representing the old Regions of Nigeria.
This Mobile Centre will provide a 360 degrees solution of Awareness, Screening and Treatment. The Centre will further emphasise our all-inclusive governance approach with its accessibility to all residents, thereby reducing inequality. With this Mobile Centre, we can save more lives and generate accurate population-based data to aid our planning and projections.
Ladies and Gentlemen, One Mobile Cancer Centre is not enough for Lagos. With a population of over 24 million people, Lagos deserves at least 10 Mobile Cancer Centres to cater for our people. I am again calling for more Corporate Institutions and Individuals to join us raise more funds to procure more of this life saving equipment.
To our friends and partners who have supported this project thus far, I thank each and every one of for your kind support and cooperation that has made today a reality. But I must say that we cannot relax as there is still some way to go. We must continue to work to save lives and give our people a chance to live better. If we still have outstanding pledges, now is the time to redeem them.
I cannot fail to recognize the Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy, led by Mrs. Adetutu Adeleke and Dr. Abia Nzelu, who have worked tirelessly, going around the country trying to raise funds for the realization of this project. To you all I say, thank you so much for your selfless service to humanity.
We hereby formally hand this Mobile Centre to you for your operation and National Cancer Prevention Programme Operative Arm of the Big War
It is on this note that I officially commission this Mobile Cancer Centre, to the Glory of God and for the use of humanity. I also hereby formally hand over this Cancer Centre to the CECP Nigeria to operate with National Cancer Prevention Programme as a vital tool to win this Big War Against Cancer.
Thank you.
Itesiwaju ipinle Eko lojewalogun
Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode
Governor, Lagos State,
Alausa.
February 14th, 2018.