Eat fruits, vegetables or risk colon cancer – Medical expert warns

The Assistant Chief Dietitians, Federal Medical Center, Abeokuta, Esther Oyewole has advised Nigerians to cultivate the habit of adding fruits and vegetables to their diet or risk developing colon cancer.

Oyewole disclosed that in Nigeria an average of 66 out of 100,000 people are living with colon cancer, and in Ogun State, 15 out of the stipulated figure live with the disease.

She spoke on Wednesday while delivering a health talk themed ” How To Eat Healthy” at the 2024 Annual General Meeting of the Nigeria Institute of Town Planners, NITP, Ogun state chapter, held in Abeokuta.

According to the dietitian, eating a healthy diet rich in fruits and vegetables can help ease bowel movements and prevent clogging of the foods in the colony.

Oyewole said, “It is necessary to eat healthily, especially for those 40 years and above. Colon cancer is a type of cancer that affects the colony, colony is part of the gastrointestinal tract.

” In Nigeria, the current prevalence shows that 66 out of a 100 thousand are living with colon cancer, then in Ogun State according to research we were able to gather, 15 out of a 100 thousand live with colon cancer.

” So to counter and prevent this they need to take a good amount of fruits and vegetables because we all know they ease bowel movement and prevent clogging of foods in the colony. Once fruits and water are taken frequently it would go a long way and reduce colon cancer.

She urged the town planners to have frequent checkups regardless of the current economic difficulties, emphasizing that, like all other cancers, the signs could include bleeding in women, appetite loss, and weight loss.

Responding, the former National President Waheed Kadiri, appreciated the dietitian for the lecture adding that, it is apt as town planners have bad diets as a result of their busy schedules and workload.

Similarly, the state NITP chairman, Adefela Shogbesan, in his remarks asserted that town planners do a lot of work but do not create time to check their health, hence the reason for organizing a health talk and eye screening test for its members.

Meanwhile, Shogbesan noted that the state lacks enough town planners working with the government, arguing that this has led to unregulated development in the state.

“We do not have enough town planners working with the government, the workload is far more than the personnel. We are aware that the government cannot employ enough personnel but at the same time we got to know that the government is trying to employ some town planners but even with that, it will not still be sufficient.

“Lagos has realized that they do not have enough capacity to employ as many town planners as are needed, so, they are doing a kind of collaboration with the consultants outside, if the Ogun State government can look into that and probably adopt it whether wholly or part of it. It would be nice”