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Ayomide Awe
The Uplift Development Foundation celebrated the 15th edition of its annual free breast and cervical cancer screening program in Ogun State, with its founder, Dr. Olufunso Amosun, announcing continued funding of surgeries for women diagnosed with breast lump.
The foundation, which started the initiative in 2012, said the intervention was designed to bridge the gap between cancer diagnosis and access to treatment, particularly for people who may not be able to afford the costs of medical treatment.
The latest screening exercise, held at the Telemedicine Center Hall of the Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta, attracted women and men, medical professionals and other stakeholders, as the foundation renewed its campaign for early cancer detection.
Amosun said the program was established out of concern about preventable deaths caused by late diagnoses, financial constraints and limited access to treatment.
He said: “Today is significant as it represents 15 years of unwavering commitment to creating awareness and saving lives.
“We started in 2012 with the belief that no one should lose their life to cancer due to treatment difficulties or money for affordable care.”
According to her, the foundation expanded its intervention in 2017 by taking responsibility for the costs of surgeries for women with breast lumps during screening exercises.
He revealed that around 30 women were identified for surgery during last year’s programme, while 774 people were screened.
Amosun urged women to make regular cancer screening part of their health routine, warning them not to wait until symptoms become severe before seeking medical attention.
“Don’t wait until symptoms become severe. Make screening part of your health routine,” she said.
He also expressed the foundation’s intention to extend the program to more rural and indigenous communities across Ogun State, saying that disadvantaged populations remain a priority.
The founder also revealed plans to explore collaborations for autism-related interventions in the state and establish a dedicated cancer screening program for men.
During the broadcast, surgeon Dr. Nko urged women diagnosed with breast cancer not to view the disease as an automatic death sentence.
She explained that treatment options depend on the nature and stage of each case, adding that breast reconstruction could also be considered where medically appropriate.
Nko encouraged women to seek medical attention immediately whenever they noticed unusual changes in their breasts.
Additionally, nurse Omowunmi Olatunji educated participants on breast self-examination, urging women to develop the habit of checking their breasts regularly.
Olatunji advised menstruating women to do a self-examination about five days after their menstrual cycle, while menopausal women could select a particular date every month and maintain the routine.
She explained that the exam should begin with a visual inspection in front of a mirror to identify unusual changes before the breast is gently examined for lumps or other abnormalities.
Messages of goodwill were delivered by Chief Madam Bola Obasanjo, Senator Iyabo Adesulowo, Justice Mosunmola Dipeolu and Olori Kadijat Matemilola, among others.
Obasanjo commended the foundation for supporting the program over the years and for bringing cancer awareness and screening to different communities.
She described the surgery as a labor of love and urged women to take advantage of the free screening.
“Through this screening, they will detect where it is, get rid of it and save lives,” he said.
She also urged the beneficiaries to become cancer awareness ambassadors by encouraging other women to undergo regular screening.
Adesulowo stressed that cancer is not an exclusively female concern, noting that men could also develop breast cancer.
He then urged the public to take cancer prevention, awareness and screening seriously.
Dipeolu, who revealed that it was her first time participating in the programme, praised the initiative and said she had also undergone the free screening.
He described early detection initiatives as key to improving the chances of early intervention.
Olori Dosunmu recalled a previous edition of the programme, saying that a woman she brought for screening was diagnosed with a lump in her breast and subsequently underwent free surgery.
Amosun also acknowledged the contribution of the medical staff and the Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta, for providing the venue and materials for the exercise free of charge.
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