Ogona Anita
.The World Health Organization says health is a collective rights and responsibility of everyone.
State Coordinator for WHO , Doctor Abdulganiyu Giwa stated this at the 5th Anniversary of a non governmental organization (NGO) known as Engraced Life Foundation which focuses on breast cancer awareness, early detection and support, screening , helping and walking alongside those affected.
Doctor Giwa called on the NGO to continue to champion the course , support survivals and advocate for stronger health systems.
” The World Health Organization stands with you , we commend your commitment to making screening and health talk accessible which is crucial to reducing the burden of breast cancer in Nigeria and beyond .
This work is responding message of hope and a powerful call to action for communities everywhere. Continue to champion the course , support survivals and advocate for stronger health systems. We will work with you physically and in spirit . Thank you for your commitment to breast cancer free future”
The founder of the Engraced Life Foundation , Ethel Olomu who is also a 15 years cancer survival said she decided to speak about it because a lot of women are going through it in silent adding that a lot of them when diagnosed of cancer , they can go as far as killing themselves out of shame and stigma from their family.
” Because of the shame , some women even when they have it , they keep quiet until it is late stage , then it is no longer treatable. Why am I doing this ? Because I don’t want any woman to go through the pain and torture I went through . It was really really bad . 15 years ago , we did not have all the access to that and that is why i am speaking about it .”
Olomu narrated that 15 years ago when she had cancer , nobody was talking about cancer and she did not get help as
everybody thought cancer was a taboo or the person was bewitched adding that with the help of family and few friends , she survived the disease and the stigmatization and when she survived it, she decided not to keep quiet.
She added that she is grateful that not only are they gathering people that do not have cancer , but also want to screen them and ensure that early detection is important.
A lady whose mother died of breast cancer disease , Uchenna Nduka while narrating how her mum suffered and died from the disease said she also had lump in her breast but after it was operated, she was okay.
“I had the experience after my mother died . I had a lump , I went to Lagos, they operated it the next day and it came out non-cancerous. The same thing with my mother-in-law, she called me today , “i woke up with a lump” next thing she was in Port Harcourt and they removed it, it was non cancerous . Same thing with my Auntie. Immediately as you are telling me about the lump , I am moving you to the hospital that same day.
It is because of these three experiences of lump removed without challenge I have come to realize that it would come up and it is nothing but the time you will spend at home it can turn to something.”
Also , a 14 years breast cancer survival, Dayo Ojo advise women to always go for breast cancer screening adding that early detection and prompt treatment is the key to surviving it.
“If you find something on your breast and you don’t check it out, you are living in denial . If you find something in your breast , you check it out , they give you diagnosis and you don’t get it treated , you are also going to be in trouble . Early detection , prompt treatment is the key to surviving it.
Meanwhile, free breast cancer screening, test for sugar and High blood pressure, Malaria and typhoid test were conducted alongside a health walk as part of the 5th Anniversary of the Engraced Life Foundation.
