..as Oyo State chapter holds awareness campaign

As the World Cancer day was being marked across the globe two days ago, the Founder of the Breast Cancer Association of Nigeria, BRECAN, Chief Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, has commended the doggedness and commitment of members of the association in Oyo state for taking cancer awareness campaign to both the public and primary schools in Ibadan, the State capital.

The BRECAN Founder who received representatives of Oyo state chapter, led by the national President of the association, Amb. Tolu Taiwo in her Jericho estate’s residence on Wednesday, expressed delight in their gesture to hold such a programme and for visiting her to cheer her up, describing it as a genuine show of love towards her.

“I commend each and everyone of you for remaining steadfast. I keep saying it that what we are involved in, is nothing but a labour of love. “It’s a burden we have taken upon ourselves, nobody forced us to do it. I want to sincerely appreciate you”. She averred.

Mrs. Akeredolu maintained that the only way to beat cancer is with adequate awareness creation and early presentation, noting that spiritual activities couldn’t cure cancer, hence, the need for all individuals to seek medical attention on time when experiencing any unusual symptoms in any part of their body.

Making reference to King Charles who was just diagnosed with prostate cancer, and the death of her husband, the BRECAN Founder noted that these current cases were a proof that the disease had no respect for individual’s status, reason BRECAN shouldn’t relent in creating the awareness in order for victim to do the right thing at the right time.

“When you do the right thing at the right time, the possibility of getting cured is greatly enhanced”. She added.

While affirming that investing in awareness creation was more affordable than seeking treatment, Mrs. Akeredolu reemphasised the essence of government’s support for organisations that were committed to the cause.

She hinted that BRECAN’s members had empowered their audiences to make an informed decision about their health status, through the awareness outreaches.

She commended the approach of taking the awareness campaign to the young ones, who would be able to educate their parents on symptoms to look out for.

Mrs. Akeredolu, however, expressed optimism that BRECAN should secure men’s support for campaign, now that it’s including prostate cancer awareness.

Earlier in her address, the BRECAN President had appreciated the Founder for establishing the association, affirming that it had, indeed, impacted lives with lots of testimonies.

She noted that their visit was to cheer her up, intimate her with their just concluded activities and to assure of their commitment to reach out to a larger population.

She informed her about the level of participation witnessed amongst the students and how they were taught awareness tips, adding that there was a feedback from a girl who examined her breast when she got home through breast self examination training they were taught and discovered a lump.

Amb. Tolu Taiwo stressed the need to extend the campaign to every nooks and crannies, noting that the disease had no respect of anyone’s social, financial, or ethnic status.