Katsina State Governor, Malam Dikko Umaru Radda, has called on philanthropists, development partners, corporate organisations, and well-meaning individuals to support ongoing efforts aimed at tackling the growing burden of breast cancer in the state.
The governor made the appeal during a send-off dinner organised in honour of the Revive Mission Belgium medical team and the Pledging Aid Charity Foundation (PAC-F) following the successful completion of a free breast cancer medical mission in Katsina State.
Governor Radda stressed that government alone cannot address complex health challenges such as cancer, emphasizing the need for sustained collaboration among stakeholders to improve healthcare outcomes and save lives.
“Government, foundations, and partners must work hand in hand. Only through collaboration can we effectively confront this devastating challenge affecting our people,” the governor said.
He commended the Revive Mission Belgium team for partnering with Katsina State in the fight against breast cancer, describing the intervention as timely and impactful, particularly in improving early detection, screening, and treatment services for women.
According to him, breast cancer remains a major public health concern, especially when diagnosed at advanced stages, making awareness and early intervention critical.
“This intervention has significantly improved early detection, screening, and access to treatment for our women. It is a major step forward in reducing the burden of breast cancer,” he added.
Governor Radda also praised the State Ministry of Health and frontline healthcare workers for their dedication and professionalism, noting that their commitment contributed significantly to the success of the programme.
He further lauded the Pledging Aid Charity Foundation (PAC-F) for its role in promoting awareness and providing life-saving support to affected patients.
The governor described the partnership between the Katsina State Government, PAC-F, and Revive Mission Belgium as a model collaboration capable of transforming healthcare delivery and pledged to strengthen the relationship, including through a planned visit to Belgium.
He also commended the First Lady of Katsina State, Hajiya Fatima Dikko Radda, for her leadership and commitment to humanitarian and health-related interventions across the state.
Earlier, Hajiya Fatima Dikko Radda disclosed that the breast cancer intervention forms part of a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the state government and its development partners, marking the first phase of implementation.
She explained that the programme was officially launched on June 8 at the General Amadi Rimi Specialist Hospital (GARSH), Katsina, while the medical mission itself commenced on May 26.
According to the First Lady, the initiative brought together government agencies, development partners, and healthcare professionals in a coordinated effort to combat breast cancer and improve access to quality healthcare services.
She noted that the sustained investments of the Radda administration in the health sector have created an enabling environment for impactful interventions and partnerships.
“Katsina State is now the third location globally, after the United Kingdom and Belgium, to benefit from the advanced medical equipment used for this exercise,” she said.
Providing an overview of the mission’s achievements, Hajiya Fatima revealed that more than 800 consultations were conducted, over 600 women were screened, and 50 life-saving surgeries were successfully carried out during the exercise.
She urged women to embrace regular medical examinations and promptly seek medical attention whenever unusual symptoms are detected.
“We must sustain awareness and strengthen community engagement in the fight against breast cancer,” she said.
The event was attended by representatives of the State House of Assembly, members of the State Executive Council, local government chairmen, heads of government institutions, healthcare stakeholders, and the President of Revive Mission Belgium, Dr. Herman, alongside members of his delegation.
Stakeholders at the event described the medical mission as a significant milestone in Katsina State’s efforts to improve cancer care and strengthen access to life-saving healthcare services.