NGOs intensify campaign on breast Cancer awareness, preventive measures and the way forward.
As the month of October is commemorated as world Breast Cancer month, non-governmental organisations NGOs: Seabas Cancer Initiative, Kick Out Cancer Foundation, and Ibom Cancer Support Group in partnership with Marjorie Bash Foundation have identified regular breast checkups as the panacea to reducing the risk that accompanied breast disease.
The Executive Director of Seabas Cancer Initiative, Deaconess Nse Inyang stated this while addressing Cancer patients at University of Uyo Teaching Hospital on the need to intensify awareness on the prevention of possible breast cancer among women in Akwa Ibom State.
Deaconess Inyang, a breast cancer survivor while presenting a demo of artificial breast to the patients, encouraged them to adhere to doctor’s prescriptions and advice, adding that cancer is not a killer disease when detected on time.
She admonished them not to entertain any form of fear as to losing their breast or any affected part of the body to cancer during surgery, assuring that there are artificial breasts in the market to make up in case their case demands surgery.
Speaking also, another representative of the NGOs, the Executive Director, kick out Cancer, Mr. Ekpeno John re-emphasized on regular checkups for healthy living, considering vital roles women play in the family and the society at large.
Mr. John disclosed that the group of NGOs carved a niche for propagating this year’s breast cancer awareness tagged “Project Save All”, PROSA 2021, Breast Cancer Community Sensitisation with the theme: “Restoring Good Health for Women and Educating All About Breast Cancer”.
He said the Organisations took the sensitization campaign to the Hospital to raise awareness of breast cancer screening, alert women to breast cancer symptoms, and to encourage women to conduct regular self-examinations.
Speaking earlier, Dr. Eka Unanam while addressing the patients, listed types of cancer, symptoms and preventive measures to avert possibility of developing the disease.
While equally advocating self examination of breast by women and their spouses, she also charged them on maintaining good hygiene and nutrition that would help women remain healthy to play their central and multiple roles as wives, mothers, home builders and managers of resources.
Similarly, Mrs. Imaobong Ekwere, a Professional Counselling Psychologist, admonished the patients on frequent exercise, eating balanced diet and drinking more water for easy digestion.
From the UUTH, the team of NGOs proceeded to Akpan Andem market where pamphlets on breast cancer were distributed to both male and female traders and sensitisation message preached to them.
The grand finale of the breast cancer awareness campaign organised by the NGOs will culminate in a fund raising ceremony geared towards assisting to offset medical bills of cancer patients on October 28, 2021 at Uyo Local Government Council Secretariat at 10:00 am.
Nice one brotherly. I was there and I will still be there..
It was a fruitful exercise.