Cervical Cancer Screening Centers will soon be sited in all 23 local councils of Rivers state. This was made known by the Deputy Governor of the state, Dr Ipalibo Banigo.

The Deputy Governor while speaking to the members of the Medical Women’s Association of Nigeria (MWAN) during a courtesy visit at the Government House Port Harcourt. She said this project will ensure rural dwellers benefit from the services of the cancer screening.

According to Banigo, the state is determined to improve the health service delivery to residents through the provision of quality, accessible, and affordable healthcare.

In her words “I am glad that you carried out expansion of cervical cancer screening outside the Port Harcourt centre by reaching out to communities, even in the riverine areas. This is commendable because not all will be able to reach the Port Harcourt Centre. It is necessary for us to make vaccination available for our young girls and men too.”

Banigo lamented the level of breast feeding awareness which she described as poor and urged the health workers to extend their reach to the rural dwellers.  “As a country, we were recording almost 100 percent in breast feeding, but it has reduced to 17 percent. I think you must take the challenge to educate and encourage our women to undertake exclusive breast feeding,” Banigo stated