...... Breast Cancer is not a death sentence, early detection is key
....... Advocates free and accessible breast screening
The Oyenike Oyekan foundation which is a non governmental organization with focus on cancer awareness, treatment and social welfare development has joined the rest of the world to commemorate the 2025 world breast cancer awareness month, with an appeal to Nigerians, to speak up and jettison the culture of silence with regards to breast cancer which is a disease ravaging the human community.
In a press release signed by it's managing consultant Nelson Ekujumi, the NGO stated that in obeisance to the World Health Organization commemoration of world breast cancer awareness month with the theme, of "Every Story is Unique, Every Journey Matter", emphasizing the diversity of experiences and the need for equitable, high-quality care for everyone, the Oyenike Oyekan foundation, " In realization of the sanctity of human life which is Unique and Every Journey Matters", has resolutely committed to spreading the gospel of cancer awareness by regularly organizing health education and sensitization programmes across the nooks and cranny of Oyo State in particular and Nigeria in general.
The foundation noted that according to the World Health Organization (WHO), breast cancer is the most common cancer in women worldwide, estimating 2.3 million cases in 2022. WHO also stated that 670,000 women were killed by breast cancer in 2022 alone which makes it a disease that must be given the necessary attention it deserves so as to save lives which is irreplaceable.
Oyenike Oyekan foundation in keying into this life saving exercise has been unrelenting in preaching the gospel that breast cancer is a disease that affects women majorly, who are 50 years and above, though younger women and men are also at risk and the only way to reverse the mortality ratio by the disease, is through regular checkup in order to detect it early, which is a key in the fight against cancer.
The organization charged Nigerians to know that being diagnosed with breast cancer is not a death sentence, that there are risk factors responsible for it and that superstitious beliefs and myths of spiritual attacks being the cause is false and misleading. It further stated that it's treatable if discovered early, charging women to jettison the culture of silence and seeking spiritual solutions instead of accessing health institutions for early detection, treatment and management.
The Oyenike Oyekan foundation then used the opportunity of the 2025 world breast cancer awareness month, to call on corporate bodies, non governmental organizations and government institutions to be part of the advocacy of sensitizing our people on breast cancer and other forms of cancer, so that together we can defeat the culture of silence and superstitious beliefs which have no basis in science.
The organization called on governments at various levels to make screening of women for breast cancer, free and accessible at all public medical institutions across the country to enable early detection and save lives.
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