Aware of the fact that Cancer is the second leading cause of death globally and can occur at any age, the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Rivers State in collaboration with Engraced Life Foundation organised a World Cancer Day Pink Room to commemorate this year’s World Cancer Day.
The event which took place at Government Girls’ Secondary School Rumuokwuta featured Breast Cancer Sensitisation Campaign, Bra and pad distribution to students as well as Free Breast Cancer Screening for female teachers and students.
The gesture was part of the cancer awareness programmes being carried out by the two organizations to save millions of preventable deaths by raising awareness and education about cancer, while pressing governments and individuals to take action against the disease especially as one third of cancers are preventable.
The Rivers State Chairperson of NAWOJ, Susan Serekara-Nwikhana in her remarks expressed belief that as Nigeria joined the global community to mark this year’s World Cancer Day, all relevant stakeholders would use the international event to raise awareness of cancer and encourage prevention, detection and treatment.
She also expressed hope that all the activities lined up for this year’s celebration would lead to powerful progress in reducing the global impact of cancer and create a cancer-free society
Also Speaking at the event,the Founder of Engraced Life Foundation Ethel Olomo regretted that poor awareness, poor health seeking behaviours,low level of non-governmental investments, funding gaps amongst other factors militate against the associations’ efforts at effectively combating cancer scourge in our society and called on government at all levels to partner with the two organizations and commit adequate resources to reduce cancer deaths and provide better quality life for patients and survivors.
World Cancer Day is celebrated annually on the 4th of February and this year’s theme is” Close the care gap”.
