About 301 women have been screened on breast and cervical cancers in Enugu State by the Medical Women’s Association of Nigeria (MWAN) as part of activities lined up for the association’s week.
Conducting the screening over the weekend in Enugu, the President of MWAN, Enugu State, Dr Ijeoma Obianyo, said the screening was free to mark MWAN Week in the state.
Obianyo noted that those showing symptoms or signs of cancer were referred to cancer or oncology centres in tertiary health institutions within the state.
According to her, the screening is for adolescent upward to older women in order to ensure early detection of cancer and timely treatment to save lives of women.
She revealed that the association had about 50 medical women who volunteered their services to get women screened on the two cancers, giving them vital health education as well as counseling.
“Apart from today’s free screening for all women, in other days, women can walk in here in MWAN Headquarters along Abakaliki Road, GRA, Enugu, to have these screenings done with a little token”, she explained.
She advised women to know their breast and do self-breast examination monthly, adding “If you notice any abnormality, rush to the association’s  office for a medical expert to examine you.
“For the cervical cancer, ensure you do your screen at least every three years to ensure early detection of any abnormality.
“If, while doing your screenings for both cancers anything is detected, we will quickly give the person referral to the tertiary health institutions for more comprehensive checks to be conducted and follow it up as well.
“Women should do regular cancer checks even if they do not find anything, please check since early detection of cancer saves lives,” she further advised.
A beneficiary of the screening, Mrs Antonia Onuora, thanked the association for the free checks as well as their care for the diseases that affect women most in the society.
“I do come for cancer screenings in this place yearly and I wish other organizations will give due attention to eliminate all forms of cancer in our society,” Onuora suggested.
Another beneficiary, Mrs Blessing Ogbonna, appreciated MWAN for joining the fight to eliminate cancer among women and “to stop the increasing motality of women from breast and cervical cancers”.
The week, which was themed: “Early Detection of Cancer Saves Lives”, started from took place from October 15 to 22 with continous massive public education on breast and cervical cancers and its early detection.

By: Canice Amadi, Enugu