If it is, then witches, and not mosquitoes, are the reason why most Nigerians suffer from malaria. If small pox was as a result of spiritual attack, then the vaccines that eradicated it must have potency against spirits.
My sister died on her daughter’s 14th birthday, November 22, 2019 after an extremely devastating struggle with breast cancer. She was 47 years old. But for the pervading belief system in the Nigerian society where people often take in all that their religious leaders say line, hook and sinker without question, she would probably have not passed on so prematurely.
She called me some eight years ago that she felt a lump in her breast. That was the first time she ever told me anything about her intimate area. Shy that she would mention the word “breast” to me and at the same time, scared that it might be the dreaded disease that the pink ribbon symbolises, I could not say a word until the call ended. Immediately after, I rang up one of the medical representatives that I supervised to connect me to an oncologist at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital and he did. At that time, I was a product manager for a pharmaceutical company with a portfolio of oncology products and I had networks to reach most of the medical specialists in Nigeria.
I scheduled an appointment with the oncologist, a respected professor. He was kind enough to grant me audience. I called my sister who then worked and lived in Lokoja, Kogi State to join me in Lagos for a visit to the doctor. She agreed but later called back that she would not come. She gave excuses of being busy at work initially and subsequently, various other excuses. I decided to contact some family members to prevail on her, but they came back with a shocking story: Someone that claimed to be representing God asked her not to seek medical intervention because her problem was a product of “spiritual attack”. The “pastor” warned that she would die if a surgical knife touched her for any reason.
My sister was very vulnerable to believing anyone that came in the name of God for certain reasons. Within the preceding two years, she lost her husband and then her three-year-old daughter in a most traumatic way. As the years rolled by, she became more engrossed with religion. She attended several church services and crusades, had vigils and went up the mountains for prayers. She fasted and served “pastors” with her time and resources. She was faithful but unfortunately, she did not know that her vulnerability was being exploited. To a casual observer, she appeared healthy, but she was dying inside. She took pain killers to mask her body aches as cancer ravaged her body.
The cancer progressed, physically eroded one of her breasts, spread to other parts of her body and destroyed her eyes. At the point of disability early this year, she agreed to be taken to the hospital. At the University College Hospital, Ibadan, the doctors were alarmed and wondered why anyone would watch her own body rot away to that level.
It was breast cancer that had progressed to stage IV. Nevertheless, she was placed on treatment. We prayed and fasted that God make her well while we cared. Some with bigoted views may wonder why I mention God after disapproving of a “pastor”. I consider myself a person of faith, but I do not discard God’s wisdom to blindly follow men. I do not believe that anyone has a monopoly of God. I would only accept the report that I receive from the Lord. For those who read the bible, that is my understanding of Romans 3:4. Even on her sick bed, the influence of the “pastors” on my sister remained strong. Through phone calls, she was made to believe her condition was inflicted by someone and that caused her to be suspicious of some of those who cared for her. At a point, she was no longer willing to accept care from people she suspected, including loving family members.
Our efforts did not save her. She died leaving her two surviving children, aged mother and the rest of us in sorrow. All through our most difficult time, those who influenced her not to seek medical attention did not show up to offer any support. They deserted her.
Notwithstanding her travails, she lived a meaningful life. Though a widow with children to cater for, my sister lived a life of dignity. She never begged anyone for anything, even in difficult times such as the periods that the Kogi State Government that she served did not pay salaries for several months. She was very hard-working, independent and entrepreneurial. She loved her children and sought the best for them. I owe it to her memory to let people, especially women be aware of breast cancer. Hopefully, ignorance would be erased in someone somewhere and that may help save a life.
Cancer is a disease and there is no evidence that it is a spiritual problem. If it is, then witches, and not mosquitoes, are the reason why most Nigerians suffer from malaria. If small pox was as a result of spiritual attack, then the vaccines that eradicated it must have potency against spirits. There may be evil forces, but those that are Christians should read Luke 10:19 and stop living in fear.
Cancer begins when cells in a part of the body start to grow out of control. In the case of breast cancer, the abnormal growth starts from the breast. The initial trigger of that growth is still unknown, but many risk factors have been identified. Broadly, breast cancer is classified into five stages: 0, I, II, III, and IV. At stage 0, the cancer cells is localised in just a small spot; at stage I, the cells increase in size; at stage II, the cells break loose and begin to affect tissues around; at stage III, the cells spread to the chest wall and lymph nodes; and at stage IV, the cells spread far away from the breast and lymph nodes to the bones, lungs, liver, and brain.
It has been demonstrated scientifically that survival rates from breast cancer are significantly greater when detected and tackled early. All women should be familiar with the look and feel of their own breasts and promptly report any changes to their health care practitioners. Those that falsely ascribe supernatural powers to themselves and influence people for their selfish reasons should stop the manipulations. The sick should never be discouraged from seeking health care from those that are trained to provide healthcare. Rest in Peace, Auntie Tayo!
Braimoh, a health development specialist based in Abuja,wrote in via[email protected]
