By CHINYERE Nnaemeka
The Imo State Chapter of Nigeria Association of Women Journalists, NAWOJ in conjunction with Planned Parenthood Federation of Nigeria, PPFN have organized breast cancer Awareness Campaign.
The event which was held in Commemorations of the year’s Breast Cancer Day with the theme, “No One Should Face Breast Cancer Alone”, had many women from diverse works of life; Lawyers Association, Accountants Associations, healthcare practitioners, among others present to witness the ceremony.
There were free Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening for over 50 women that were in attendance for the event which took place on Wednesday at NUJ Press Center Area H, before Saga Suite, New Owerri.
In her keynote address, the Chairman of NAWOJ, Dorothy Okafor-Nnaji, Ph.D, saying that the event is the first of it’s kind organized by the association, noted that its essence is to drive home, and make people, especially women understand that breast cancer, and cervical cancer are still prevalent.
She urged women to always take care of themselves, and go for checkups to prevent themselves from having such experience.
She continued, “women should always endeavor to speak out when they are faced with such challenges as they can never tell where there help could come from.
“We all should also learn how to empathize with people passing through such challenges, and not make them feel they are carrying a contagious disease, which is not, ‘Nnaji stated’.
Saying that it is the desire of NAWOJ that every woman will live a healthy life, pointed out that it is the reason why the association is partnering with PPFN to conduct free Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening for all the women that were in attendance for the programme.
Also speaking, the Imo State PPFN Clinic Officer, Ezike Chiamaka Pamela, who talked to the participants about the disease, noted that Breast Cancer is the leading cause of Cancer related deaths in women.
She disclosed that in 2020, 8000 persons died of breast cancer, while 12000 was screened with it.
She mentioned the risk factors that can predispose one to having breast cancer as overweight, chronic smoking, consumption of alcohol, and when it is hereditary, among others.
She continued, “There is need for us to spread this information so people will be enlightened on the need to go for checkups, for breast, and cervical cancer are preventable when dictated at an early stage.
Ezike taught the women how to do Self breast examination, and urged them to always do that, and report to a good clinic when they notice any changes on their breast, for instance lumps.
She also advised the women to also learn to check their BPs, and weights, saying that something as little as weight explains what is going on in our body.
She further urged mothers to encourage their children to go for screening, even the ones from 9-14 years as they are screened free of charge at government hospitals and health care centers.
As it was an interactive session, the participants were given opportunities to ask questions and were cleared on the areas where they were having doubts.
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