BY JULIET EKWENUGO
Kaduna
The women wing of the Ansar-ud-Deen Society, Kaduna branch, has stepped up advocacy on cervical cancer prevention, calling on women to prioritise regular screening and healthier lifestyles.
The appeal formed part of activities marking this year’s Mother’s Day celebration organised by the group to honour mothers and promote women’s health.
Speaking at the event, the chairman of the occasion, Alhaji Hassan Ismail, who was represented by the vice chairman of the Kaduna branch, Alhaji Moshood Akinsanya, said the day was set aside to recognise the invaluable role of mothers in family life, nation-building and moral upbringing in line with Islamic values.
In her remarks, the chairperson of the branch, Hajia Wosilat Sanni, alongside the secretary, Hajia Taobat Faro, said the programme was designed to celebrate mothers, empower women and honour deserving individuals through merit awards.
Delivering a lecture, the guest speaker, Dr Fatima Bakare, Head of the Gynaecology Department at Yusuf Dantsoho Teaching Hospital, stressed the importance of prioritising health as a foundation for a productive life.
She urged women to pay attention to their mental wellbeing, maintain a balanced diet and undertake regular medical check-ups, especially from the age of 35, warning that cervical cancer cases are on the rise but largely preventable with early detection.
She advised women from the age of 21 to begin routine Pap smear tests, noting that early diagnosis significantly improves survival.
The medical expert also encouraged regular breast and cervical cancer screening, raising concern that more cases are being detected among older women.
She further linked the increasing incidence of kidney-related diseases among women to unhealthy lifestyles and the use of certain cosmetic products, adding that some skin-toning creams pose serious health risks and may contribute to kidney complications.
Bakare, therefore, urged women to adopt healthier habits, including increased consumption of vegetables, reduced intake of processed foods, regular blood pressure checks and proper hygiene.
As part of the programme, participants benefited from free health screening, including blood pressure and blood sugar tests conducted at a health desk set up by the organisers.
In a lecture on parenting, Sheikh Maruf Imam Gbadamosi cautioned against excessive reliance on nannies, warning that it could expose children to neglect or abuse.
He urged parents to take direct responsibility for raising their children and emphasised the need to combine formal education with sound moral and religious upbringing.
Gbadamosi also called on parents to lead by example in instilling discipline and values that will shape responsible future generations.
ENDS
