Youth corps member educates women on breast, cervical cancer

A serving National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member and graduate of the University of Ibadan,  Ms Chinwendu Igwe, has expressed determination to join forces in the fight against breast and cervical cancer among women and young girls, especially in the underserved and low-income communities in the country.

She said the increasing rate at which the two diseases are spreading and taking away lives prematurely in the country is unacceptable and something must be done quickly to change the narrative.

To this end, the young graduate, who studied zoology, embarked on a cancer awareness campaign programme to empower women and young girls with the right knowledge as regards the disease, its prevention, early detection and treatment.

She carried out the one-day seminar on Monday, July 1, as part of her community development service initiatives.

She was supported by some organisations including the National Hospital, Abuja; OCI Foundation; Greenfield Cancer Care Foundation, Move Against Cancer Africa and some youth corps volunteers.

The programme, held at the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, Abuja, where she is serving, has no fewer than 100 women from across the six local council areas of FCT as participants.

The attendees were educated on the danger, prevention, self-examination techniques and treatment of the disease while some were also screened free of charge to ascertain if they were already at risk or not.

Also, the Minister of Women Affairs, Mrs Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, was at the event to give her support to the campaign as it aligns with the ministry’s agenda on cancer.

She was represented by her Special Adviser on Technical Matters, Mr. Adaji Usman as well as Dr Fatima Abubakar- Faruk, who is her Special Assistant on Special Duties.

The Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Amb. Gabriel Aduda, was also on hand with some directors and other staff members of the ministry.

Speaking about the programme, the convener, Ms Igwe, told Nigerian Tribune that she embarked on the programme as her own contribution to the fight against both breast and cervical cancer in the country.

She said she believes that government alone cannot provide the knowledge needs by the people about the disease, hence her involvement in a little way.

She said participants are expected to carry the message back home and pass it on to other members of their respective families and communities.

While thanking the Ministry of Women Affairs and other organisations and individuals as well as volunteer youth corps members for supporting her vision, Ms Igwe promised to continue to be committed to the project even after the completion of her one-year national youth service programme.

 

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