By Terna Chikpa, Jalingo
The Medical Women’s Association of Nigeria (MWAN), Taraba State Chapter, in collaboration with the North-East Development Commission, on Friday urged Nigerian women to embrace regular breast and cervical cancer screening as a vital step toward early detection, treatment, and prevention of the diseases.
President of the association, Dr.Echuseh Audu, made the call during the flag-off of the Breast and Cervical Cancer Awareness Campaign held in Jalingo, with the theme: “Every Story is Unique, Every Journey Matters.”
Dr Audu said the initiative was part of the association’s ongoing commitment to improving women’s health through awareness and education.
According to the organisers, the campaign will continue across various communities in Taraba State to ensure that women at all levels have access to vital information and free screening opportunities.
She noted that the campaign underscored the power of collaboration between MWAN and NEDC in promoting early cancer detection and access to care.
“This programme is proof of the strength of partnership and our shared mission to provide compassionate care and support for women. We aim to engage top health professionals to enlighten women on the importance of screening, early diagnosis, and preventive measures,” Dr Audu stated.
She emphasised that women — especially those aged 50 and above — should make cancer screening a regular part of their health routine to help reduce mortality rates associated with breast and cervical cancers.
Also speaking, Amahdy Gagwi Tarfa, representative of the North East Development Commission, commended MWAN for its dedication to women’s health and pledged the Commission’s continued support for initiatives that positively impact lives across the North East.
In her remarks, the Medical Director of the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Jalingo, Dr Aisha Adamu, described the awareness campaign as a landmark effort in strengthening the state’s health sector.
She said such programmes play a critical role in reminding communities about the importance of early testing and collective efforts in the fight against cancer.
“Pooling our resources and sensitising communities about the dangers of late diagnosis are key to reducing the burden of breast and cervical cancer in Nigeria,” Dr. Adamu said.
Our correspondent reports that participants at the event were educated by medical experts on various aspects of cancer care.
Dr Maryam Musa Haruna delivered a health talk on “Understanding Breast Cancer: Signs, Prevention, and Early Detection,” while Dr Rakiya Jibril spoke on “Cervical Cancer Awareness: The Role of Vaccination and Screening.”
The programme also featured goodwill messages from dignitaries and live testimonies from cancer survivors, who shared inspiring stories of hope, resilience, and recovery.
