Lagos — Wife of the Zamfara Governor, Hajiya Aisha Shinkafi, has flagged-off the "Zamfara State Well Women Health Programme" with the screening of 120 poor women for cancer.

The women, screened for breast and cervical cancer at the General Hospital, Garki, Abuja, were selected from the 14 Local Government areas of the state.

Speaking shortly before the screening, the governor's wife, who is also the First Lady of the state, said three of the 140 women slated for the screening exercise were in critical condition, adding that one lost her life shortly before the commencement of the exercise.

"The woman who died in the morning of the exercise had been suffering from this deadly disease for many years without her knowledge.

"Many of the women in the rural areas do not have access to medical facilities while some cannot afford to pay the medical bills," she said.

Hajia Shinkafi, who noted that breast and cervical cancer were the second deadliest diseases among women, said she embarked on the programme to ease the burden of gynaecological cancer in the state.

On the choice of Abuja for the launch, the First Lady said this was done because cancer screening facilities were not available in Zamfara State.

She assured the people that she would soon make screening facilities available in some centres in the state.

Also speaking, the Medical Director of Garki General Hospital, Dr. Ibrahim Wada, commended the Zamfara State First Lady for the initiative and assured her of regular support to ensure the success of the programme.