The Ondo State chapter of the Breast Cancer Association of Nigeria, BRECAN today concluded a weeklong activities for the 2020 Pink October in Akure the state capital.
Giving her remarks, the founder of BRECAN and First Lady of Ondo State, Arabinrin Betty-Anyanwu Akeredolu called for Community based effort to combat the deadly breast cancer disease, saying individuals can contribute to the cause in diverse ways.
Mrs Akeredolu who expressed delight seeing the Chairman of the occasion, Hon Ade Adeogun partnering BRECAN to create awareness in his constituency, called for collaborative effort in the fight against cancer.
“This fight has to be Community based effort, forget about Government, let us join hands and see what we can do to save the lives of our people because government can be too slow in doing things and cancer doesn’t wait for anyone”, she appealed.
She commended the executive members of BRECAN in the State for their commitment and efforts towards the mission of the association and enjoined them not to relent.
She said: ” This is not an NGO to share money but to make sure that our women no longer die from breast cancer needlessly. It is compassion that we need in the fight against cancer, we are not waiting for government; let us do the much we can, we can contribute money.
“Look at these Team Survivors Nigeria, they are alive because of the 200naira donated by individuals to commence their treatment, because if we don’t commence the treatment the cancer cell will continue to multiply.
“Please, no matter how little you have, donate to the crowd funding, N200 is not going to break your hand but if you have more, the better for all of us. Sometimes I also tell people that everything doesn’t end with money, the fact that you are able to talk to someone, a woman, and say have you checked your breast this month? It’s something.
“Like my little girls that are using SEKEM dance to promote breast cancer awareness, that is their own contribution, we all have ways we can do to make sure that this needless death we are experiencing in this country come to a halt”.
The BRECAN founder was elated with the growth of the association across Nigeria relating it to a mustard seed that had germinated with so many branches providing shelter for victims of breast cancer.
“A time was in the history of this association I was the lone voice in the wilderness, nobody wanted to come closer, they would throw flyers back at me like I’m throwing breast cancer at them.
“So looking at what is happening today and what happened in Oyo state two weeks ago, and as I speak is happening in Owerri Imo state, they are having their own grand finale, it is wonderful and amazing, and gradually we are moving ahead. We are expanding our scope”.
Speaking earlier, the BRECAN Chairperson in the state, Dr. (Mrs) Oluwatoyin Ayemoro noted that this made the fourth Pink October the association celebrated in Ondo with 25 beneficiaries to receive treatment.
Hon. Ade Adeogun, a Lawmaker representing Akoko South East and West in the House of Representatives who partners BRECAN for this year pink October noted that about 200 women were enlightened on breast cancer in his constituency yesterday during the awareness programme he organised.
Adeogun who served as the Chairman of the Pink October grand finale who said he was delighted to be share in the vision of BRECAN, laude the wife of the governor for her efforts while stressing the need to take the awareness campaign to local areas.
He assured of his readiness to keep supporting the association, saying partnering BRECAN was a learning point for him to correct some misgivings about breast cancer.
The event featured Health talk about breast cancer, and presentation of SEKEM breast self examination awareness dance.
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