Cancer Survivor Leads Awareness Drive with Free Medical Outreach

Idowu Abdullahi A prostate cancer survivor, Pastor Leo Adejoro, has organised a cancer awareness and free medical outreach programme. The event, themed “From Remembrance to Responsibility” and held at the Multipurpose Hall of Rhema Christian Church, Sango, Ogun State, was organised in honour of Adejoro’s late wife, Kehinde Mufuliat Adejoro. Mrs Adejoro was a Deputy Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps before her death. The event was coming a year after her passing. Speaking at the programme, Adejoro said the outreach was inspired by his survival from prostate cancer through early detection. “Remembrance must lead to responsibility. My survival and my wife’s passing taught me that awareness, early screening, and compassion can save lives and preserve families,” he said in a statement made available to PUNCH Healthwise on Wednesday. A health website, Cleveland, described prostate cancer as a type of cancer that develops in the prostate gland, a part of the male reproductive system. It added that it is a common cancer that can be serious if it spreads to other parts of the body. Prostate cancer is recognised as the most common cancer and the second leading cause of cancer death among men globally. Worse still, black men around the world are at a much higher risk of having and dying from the disease. Speaking further, Adejoro noted that many deaths from breast and prostate cancer occur because cases are detected late. He emphasised that timely screening has a significant impact on improving survival outcomes. “These cancers are not a death sentence. With early checks and proper care, many lives can be saved. That is why this outreach matters,” he added. Adejoro also paid tribute to his late wife, describing her as a woman of compassion and service, fondly known as ‘Iya Gbogbo’ for her habit of treating everyone like family. “Even while she was ill, she was still helping others. Marking her one-year remembrance by saving lives reflects how she lived,” he said. Also, Nigeria’s first female Professor of Radiation Oncology, Anthonia Sowunmi, who spoke on breast cancer, emphasised screening and the importance of early detection. The Chief Consultant and Managing Director, Prince Specialist Clinic, Abeokuta, Dr. Ebenezer Nkom, who spoke on prostate cancer, warned that late presentation remains a major cause of avoidable deaths among men. Over 200 participants — about 100 men and 100 women — received free prostate cancer (PSA) and breast cancer screenings. Participants described the event as a blend of medical education, faith, and lived experience. Adejoro said the initiative would be sustained annually to promote routine screening and community engagement. “Cancer awareness must move beyond remembrance to responsibility, early action, and care for one another,” he said. Copyright PUNCH All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.