The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Breast Cancer Association of Nigeria

  • EdoJobs, Curators University train more Edo youths on data science

    In an effort to groom programmers and techpreneurs in Edo State, Governor Godwin Obaseki’s skills development platform, EdoJobs, has partnered with Curators University to train more youths in Edo State on data science at the Edo Innovation Hub.

    Senior Special Assistant to Edo State Governor on Job Creation and Skills Development and Head, EdoJobs, Mrs Ukinebo Dare, disclosed this in a chat with journalists, noting that the training is in line with the governor’s pledge to create 200,000 jobs in the state.

    READ ALSO: Edojobs expands training portfolio for rural communities

    The training programme would be for the second batch of trainees, as a batch had earlier been trained to deploy data science and machine learning skills in solving societal problems. Members of that batch participated in the National Breast Cancer Hackathon organised by Breast Cancer Association of Nigeria and Access Bank and clinched the top two spots.

    Speaking on the training for the second batch, Mrs Dare said the state government is confident that the 5-day intensive training programme would groom a new set of innovators who would provide solutions to local problems in the state.

    According to her, “We are partnering with Curators University to train more youths on data science. The training will be for five days. This will give them the opportunity to learn how to deploy data in solving problems. Those expected at the training include university graduates, undergraduates or school leavers, who are interested in data science. The training will hold at the Edo Innovation Hub.”

    She noted that as the world continues to become accustomed to new technologies, the need for data scientists would increase as they help others understand information better.

    She said, “We are excited with the results we are getting from the different training ongoing at the Hub. We want to assure those interested in this training that they will get the best of practical and theoretical training in data science. It is open to those studying any course, aside computer scientists or economists from the universities.”

  • 102 Women die at childbirth daily – Akeredolu

    Wife of the Ondo State Governor, Mrs Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu on Monday said no fewer than 102 women die daily during childbirth.

    Besides, she noted that 2,123 children could not be alive to celebrate their 5th birthday because of premature death.

    Mrs Akeredolu hinged the challenges on low literacy level of most Women,stressing that half of Nigeria’s women population were illiterates.

    She noted that the major cause of low literacy level among Nigerian women was lack of opportunity to be properly schooled due to gender stereotypes prevailing in the country.

    Mrs Akeredolu spoke at the 2nd edition of ‘BEMORE’ summer boot camp ceremony at PSTI, Ilara-Mokin where another set of 400 girls were empowered in the field of Information and Communication Techology (ICY) as well as Solar technology.

    According to her, government at all levels needed  to pay more attention to girl-child in Nigeria, saying no nation can achieve sustainable development until special attention was paid to girl-child in  terms of education and protection.

    She maintained that Nigeria female illiteracy population remains higher till date, adding that more than half of Nigerian women were still without a formal education which must receive urgent attention.

    Read Also: Akeredolu’s wife seeks support for NGO’s funding

    Mrs Akeredolu said, “Our greatest error as a nation is not the acts that prompted the 1967 civil war. Our greatest error has been and continue to be, denying the girl child equal access to quality education by upholding cultural norms, traditions and religious beliefs that discriminate against them.

    “I have dedicated my life to empowering the women folk simply because I understand that a prosperous woman equals a prosperous family and in turn a prosperous community and this ideology drives me and I believe it should drive every individual seeking a better world today.

    “An investment in the girl-child is not only an investment that secures our nation’s future but one that also transforms our present state. Young girls are vibrant and smart, they have potentials yearning for expression locked inside them. We will be astonished at what they can do if we support them in unlocking these potentials.

    The founder, Breast Cancer Association of Nigeria(BRECAN) was optimistic that the beneficiaries would transform Nigeria to a digital country and bring an end to one of the greatest issues bedevilling the country especially unstable electricity.

     

  • ‘Women vulnerable to breast cancer’

    The wife of Ondo State Governor, Mrs Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu has said one in eight women has breast cancer.

    Mrs Akeredolu, who is the founder of the Breast Cancer Association of Nigeria (BRECAN) revealed this during an awareness campaign on Breast Cancer held at Isinkan Market Akure, the state capital.

    It was in commemoration of the 30th anniversary of Oluwarotimi Nursery and Primary School, Akure, which collaborated with BRECAN for the advocacy programme.

    Mrs Anyanwu-Akeredolu, who was represented by the Chairperson of Ondo State branch of BRECAN, Dr Toyin Ayimoro said breast cancer as an ailment is not limited for women alone, stressing that it could affect anybody.

    She said: “We need to stem the tide of the disease by creating awareness and sensitising the people to the dangers of the disease. My mission is to ensure that less people die of breast cancer again.

    Mrs Akeredolu, who is a survivor of the disease, urged women to always examine themselves and go for treatment if they detect the symptom, stressing that they should not keep the problem a secret.

    At the event, pupils of Oluwarotimi Nursery and Primary School performed drama presentation on breast cancer advocacy. They described the disease as threat to life.

    Head teacher of the school, Mrs Noah-Isah appreciated God for keeping members of staff and pupils of the school together for the past 30 years.

    According to her, the management of the school realised the importance of good health and decided, as part of its responsibilities, to organise the awareness campaign against breast cancer in collaboration with BRECAN.

    This, she noted, was to sensitise the public to the danger inherent in lack of information and awareness on the disease.

  • The beauty of fighting on

    The beauty of fighting on

    ….Inspiring stories of breast cancer survivors

    There was a beehive of activities marking this year’s world cancer day in Nigeria. However, one remarkable event which stood out for not only creating awareness, but also inspiring women suffering from the ailment to put up a good fight was the 2nd Omolara Jolaoso memorial lecturer, held on the 4th of February.

    Organized by the Breast Cancer Association of Nigeria (BRECAN) in collaboration with the 1988 old students of Maryland Comprehensive Secondary School (Landers 88); the event was chaired by Professor Adeyemi Y. Ajekigbe, a Consultant Radiation Oncologist & Head of Department, Radiotherapy & Oncology, Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Lagos, Nigeria.

    Drawing about 500 participants, the gathering included local and international cancer experts, patients, survivors, advocates, healthcare professionals, government officials, policy makers, legislators, parents and students, who gathered in the tastefully decorated hall of Maryland Comprehensive Secondary School, Lagos.

    Even though the lecture held in Lagos, it had the trapping of an international event with a ‘big fish’ in the international cancer community, Dr Julie Gralow delivering the keynote address. Gralow, a professor of Medical Oncology, Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, Washington, USA; did justice to the theme of the lecture, ‘Survivorship’. The internationally recognized expert in breast cancer clinical trials in her presentation gave useful tips on improving the quality of life for breast cancer patients through education, diet and exercise.

    According to her; “exercise help women withstand the rigour of cancer treatment and improve their quality of life during and after treatment”.

    With an elucidating lecture from Gralow which set the stage for the remaining two speakers; it did not come as a surprise that Ms Phillipa Kibugu-Decur, a survivor who mounted the stage to speak eloquently on her battle with breast cancer and how she conquered, gripped the attention of the audience. Showing pictures detailing her journey to recovery and her advocacy works, Ms Decuir who is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Breast Cancer Initiative East Africa (BCIEA), harped on the need for women to be courageous and confident, should they be diagnosed of breast cancer.

    Decur, a Rwandan who lost a sister to metastatic-liver breast cancer was also diagnosed of the ailment in 1994. Although cancer cost her both breasts as she had to undergo a double mastectomy, she declared to the delight of all that she is still standing strong, 21 years after owing to the healthy activities she embraced after treatment.

    Although she was the last person to mount the stage to talk on survivorship; Mrs Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu’s story was no less inspiring. Passing her message across in a lilting voice which lifted the spirit of the audience, Mrs Anyanwu-Akeredolu, the founder/ president of BRECAN recalled how she went straight to the hospital upon discovering a lump in her breast.

    Now a survivor of 20 years and still counting, she told the audience that her experience galvanized into establishing BRECAN, an NGO which has been in the forefront of advocating positive and lasting change in the Nigerian society which sadly, is deeply entrenched in misconceptions about causes of breast cancer and how it can be treated.

    Expressing her delight at the turn out for the lecture, she said: “I can’t tell you how excited I am that the mustard seed we sowed last years has germinated.

    “I was diagnosed of breast cancer when I was 43 years old. I survived because I wanted to see my children who are all grown up and very successful in their chosen careers. Some have gotten married and given me grand children. I am a very happy grandmother. That is the beauty of fighting on,” she submitted.

    Mrs Anyanwu-Akeredolu who said she accepted mastectomy without hesitation because she needed to be alive for her children, advised women against presenting late in the hospitals, since little or not much can be done to redeem their lives at such delicate period. Rather than going to prayer mountains and deliverance session, she charged women to become breast aware and report any changes they notice to the hospital.

    The aim of the annual Omolara Jolaoso Memorial Lecture, it was learnt, is to stimulate the interest of next generation breast cancer researchers in Nigeria. A post-lecture workshop which focused on international collaboration on breast cancer research in Nigeria for health care professionals with research interest in breast cancer management was held a day after the lecture.