NAOWA Organises Roadshow To Create Awareness On Breast Cancer 2024 Day
By Simeon OSAJIE
Wife of the Nigerian Army 4 Brigade Commander, Mrs. Akon Oduyebo, today Thursday 24 led the Nigerian Army Officers’ Wives Association (NAOWA) on roadshow to create awareness on 2024 Breast Cancer Awareness Day.
This year event is in collabotion with World Health Organisationi (WHO).
Members of the association kicked off the roadshow from the brigade headquarters through the Airport Road to Ring Road in the state capital. They distributed leaflets on information about the deadly disease to passersby, motorists and shop owners along the route.
The train also went through Sapele Road to Igbinedion Way in the Government Reservation Area (GRA) before it terminated at the army brigade headquarters.
The roadshow was later followed by a lecture, where Mrs. Oduyebo, who is the zonal coordinator of the 4 Brigade chapter of the association, said the activities were to mark the 2024 breast cancer awareness day of the association.
According to her, breast cancer affects thousands of Nigerian women annually, devastating families and communities.
She noted, however, that early detection and proper care could save lives.
The NAOWA coordinator pledged the dedication of the chapter to raising awareness about both breast and cervical cancer, expressing support of research and medical care on the disease.
She commended the World Health Organisation (WHO) for its partnership as the event also featured free breast and cervical cancer screening.
Declaring the lecture open, Brig-Gen. Ebenezer Oduyebo, Commander of the 4 Brigade said notwithstanding the daunting statistics about cases of breast cancer, there was an emerging hope with medical advancements in the screening, diagnosis and treatment.
“Early detection through methods like mammography and self-examinations plays a critical role in improving survival rates.
“The 5-year survival rate for localised breast cancer is now around 99 per cent, thanks to these breakthroughs.
He however called for a continuing global efforts to make breast cancer care more accessible to women in low-resource settings, particularly developing countries like Nigeria.
The senior army officer applauded president of NAOWA, Mrs. Mariya Lagbaja under whose directive the awareness event was being organised.
He urged the participants to reflect on the lessons from the lecture in an effort to combat the disease.
