Bayelsa State Governor, the Honourable Seriake Dickson on Thursday decried the absence of a standard cancer treatment centre in southern Nigeria.
Governor Dickson stated this on Thursday when a presidential aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and former Governor of Sokoto state, Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa and his campaign team visited Toru Orua to sympathise with the Dickson family over the death of Mrs. Goldcoast Dickson, in Toru Orua community.
A press release signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Francis Ottah Agbo quoted Governor Dickson as noting that, the proposed Goldcoast Dickson Memorial Cancer Centre, when established, would meet the health needs of cancer patients in the region.
According to the governor, the Dickson family will be unveiling his foundation that will establish a cancer centre in Toru Orua community in honour of his mother, as part of efforts to fight the terminal ailment.
His words:”I’m told that in the entire southern Nigeria, there is no standard cancer treatment centre, particularly in the south-south and southeast.
“The cancer centre will not be a government funded project but government may support it. Formal letters will soon go out for my foundation.
“We will be appealing for support from all well meaning individuals and organizations because there is no doubt that we are dealing with a very serious health challenge, which all of us people of goodwill should join hands to confront.”Governor Dickson, who expressed appreciation to Bafarawa and his campaign team for the visit, described his mother as a supportive and public spirited person and urged all to champion causes that are beneficial to mankind.
In his remarks, Bafarawa said Mrs Dickson’s legacies would remain indelible since she lived to witness the successes achieved by her children.
Bafarawa who prayed God to grant the bereaved Dickson family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss, noted that, his condolence visit was a demonstration of his love and trust for Governor Dickson as their relationship goes beyond politics.
A minute silence was observed in honour of the departed Mrs Dickson
