The Breast Cancer Association of Nigeria, BRECAN, founded by the First Lady of Ondo State, Chief Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, joined the globe on friday, to mark 2023 World Health Organisation’s Global Strategy to eliminate cervical cancer.

BRECAN, with about 10 State chapters in Nigeria, held the programme simultaneously in Ibadan the head office and Akure , the Ondo State capital.

The Oyo State’s event, which was coordinated by the BRECAN National President, Ambassador Tolu-Taiwo, recorded cervical cancer sensitization outreach in Akinyele area and environs with an impressive turnout of women within the community, including female teachers from schools in the neighbourhood.

BRECAN, having committed over 25years to galvanising actions against Breast Cancer disease, now integrates cervical cancer campaign in its scope of operation.

According to the President, this year marks the first time BRECAN provided both breast and cervical screening for women, a development she described as a demonstration of the Founder’s commitment to preventing needless death of women.

In Ondo, the BRECAN’s State chairperson, Mrs. Chinyere Nneke-Iyke, led the cervical cancer sensitization train to Akure North local government, where over 400 population, majorly women and secondary school girls were sensitised on the need to embrace cervical cancer vaccination.

The awareness gathering featured Breast Self Examination lecture, introduction to colour ribbons of cancer types, lectures on cervical cancer, symptoms, risk factors and vaccination, and also conducted evaluation to know the level of cervical cancer awareness knowledge of the participants.

The Global Strategy to Eliminate Cervical cancer was launched in August 2020 by the World Health Assembly for cervical cancer elimination which is marked every 17th November.

To achieve elimination, WHO came up with three key pillars and their corresponding targets of 90-70-90.

It means by 2030, 90% of girls must have been fully vaccinated with the HPV vaccine by the age of 15; screening 70% of women using a high-performance test by the age of 35, and again by the age of 45; and treatment of 90% of the detected pre-invasive cancers and managing 90% of women with invasive cancers.

Each country is expected to meet the 90–70–90 targets by 2030, and BRECAN integrated this to its scope of operation to join the globe in achieving the target.

Story Credit: Mary Agidi