Association screens, educates 301 women on breast, cervical cancers in Enugu

The Medical Women’s Association of Nigeria (MWAN) has screened no fewer than 301 women on breast and cervical cancers in Enugu as part of activities lined up for the association’s week.

The week, which is themed: “Early Detection of Cancer Saves Lives”, started from Oct. 15 to Oct. 22 with continued massive public education on breast and cervical cancers and its early detection.

Conducting the screening on Saturday, the President of MWAN Enugu State, Dr Ijeoma Obianyo, said that the screening was free to mark MWAN week in the state.

Obianyo noted that those showing symptoms or signs of cancer were referred to cancer or oncology centres in tertiary health institutions within the state.

According to her, the screening is for adolescents upward to older women in order to ensure early detection of cancer and timely treatment to save lives.

She said that the association had about 50 medical women volunteering their services to get women screened on the two cancers as well as giving them vital health education as well as counseling.

“Apart from today’s free screening for all women; in other days, women can walk in here, in MWAN Headquarters along Abakaliki Road, GRA Enugu, to have these screenings done with a little token,” she said.

She, however, advised women to “know your breast and do self-breast examination at least every month”, adding “If you notice any abnormality, you rush to the association office for a medical expert to examine you”.

“For the cervical cancer, ensure you do your screening at least every three years to ensure early detection of any abnormality.

“If, while doing your screenings for both cancers anything is detected, we will quickly give the person referral to the tertiary health institutions for more comprehensive checks to be conducted and followed up.

“Women should do regular cancer checks; even if they do not find anything; please check since early detection of cancer saves lives,” she added.

A beneficiary of the screening, Mrs Antonia Onuora, thanked the association for the free checks as well as their care for the diseases that affects women most in the society.

“I do come for cancer screenings in this place yearly and I wish other organizations will give due attention to eliminate all forms of cancer in our society,” Onuora said.

Another beneficiary, Mrs Blessing Ogbonna, appreciated MWAN for joining the fight to eliminate cancer among women and “stop the increasing death of women from breast and cervical cancers”. (NAN)