Breast Cancer Campaign Goes To Schools

Breast cancer campaign is now having a new fillip as the National Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Rivers State chapter in conjunction with Engraced Life Foundation has taken their enlightenment programme to schools.
Their first port of call was Government Girls Secondary School (GGSS), Rumuokwuta. To the surprise of many, the devotion hall of the school was filled with selected teenagers between 13 to 16 years who were given lectures, talk and screening on breast cancer.
Since last year September, NAWOJ and Engraved Life Foundation have teamed up together with women lawyers in Rivers State to spread the awareness on breast cancer.
Today in Nigeria, cancer ailment is taking its toll on the population. Globally it is the second leading cause of death and it can occur at any age.
Last Friday, at GGSS, Rumuokwuta, young female students were excited, as they paid rapt attention as different speakers took time to educate them on ways to prevent the deadly disease.
The young students who took turns to ask questions after the lecturers, were excited when free Bra and pads were given out while many got a free breast cancer screening including the female teachers.
NAWOJ Chairperson, Susan Serekana, Wikhana told them that breast cancer affects 90 percent of women, especially women of conception age.
Said, Serekana,” we have gone to many communities and we have seen sorry situation. The challenge is that many fear to come out. A lot feel they will be victimised.”
Also speaking at the event, the Founder of Engraced Life Foundation, Ethel Olomo who is a cancer survivor used her experience to encourage the girl folks not to take their health for granted.
For instance, she urged them to always look out for signs or symptoms on their bodies, especially their breasts and private parts.
According to her, once they observe any strange feeling like lump or other tell tale signs of cancer, they should tell their parents or report to hospitals immediately.
She  regretted  that lack of awareness, poor health seeking behaviours,low level of non-governmental investments, funding gaps amongst other factors militate against the fight on  cancer scourge in our society.
She therefore called on government at all levels to partner with the organisations and commit adequate resources to reduce cancer deaths and provide better quality life for patients and survivors.
Comrade Boma Omubo Pepple of the Rotary International was on ground with his team to pep the young girls to ensure they do not hide any ailment they observe on their bodies.
“Ensure you have mentors, talk to your teachers, aunties about whatever you observe on your bodies. Cancer kills ,”Omubo-Pepple emphasised.
World Cancer Day is celebrated annually and this year’s theme is Close The Care Gap”.
The NAWOJ chairperson said the campaign in schools was part of the cancer awareness programmes being carried out by the two organisations to save millions of preventable deaths  by raising awareness and education about cancer, while pressing governments and individuals to take action against the disease especially as one third of cancer cases are preventable.
She hinted that soon the event will be taken to schools in the rural areas, “ that is where so many people are ignorant, but we will reach out to them”.
She expressed hope that all the activities lined up for this year’s celebration would lead to reduction of the ailment.
On her part, founder of Engraved Life, Olomo urged government at all levels to partner with organisations and commit adequate resources to reduce cancer deaths and provide better quality life for patients and survivors.

By: Kevin Nengia