To further create awareness on the
dangers of Cancer, the Pink Pearl Foundation train recently stormed Abia State.
With support from the First Lady of the State, Mrs. Mercy Odochi Orji, the
foundation ran an awareness raising campaign and provided free Breast and
Cervical Cancer screenings. The two day event themed “Pink Ride,” took place
recently and featured a cycling tour of the city of Umuahia and a free
screening programme at the Michael Okpara Auditorium, Umuahia.
Mrs. Nene Ananaba, wife of the
Deputy Governor, who represented Mrs. Orji, flagged off the event. To show
their dedication towards the fight against Cancer, members of the lifestyle
cycling club rode round Umuahia city. Women were told about enlightenment and
free lectures were given as well as free screenings. The cyclists rode from the
city to the Michael Okpara University to campaign against Breast and Cervical Cancer.
On day two of the event, women
rushed in numbers to be informed and screened. The Pink Pearl team was led by a
Senior Partner of the foundation, Mr. Onye Ubanatu, and volunteer doctors and
nurses headed by Dr. Uche Okwe. On behalf of the founder, Mrs. Orode Ryan Okpu,
Mr. Ubanatu thanked the women of Abia State for attending the event. He also
thanked Mrs. Orji and her daughter for inviting them to the state. He assured
the women of the timeliness of their choice to get screened, adding that the first
step to cure is early detection.
While responding, Mrs. Orji
thanked the foundation for coming to empower and enlighten the women of Abia.
In her lecture, Dr. Uche Okwe,
explained the stages and dangers of Breast and Cervical Cancer and the
importance of early detection. She cited the need for women to go for
regular mammography checkups and emphasized the necessity of learning to
properly conduct the Breast Self-Examination (BSE).
Among the 314 women that attended
the event, 107 women were screened. Lumps were found in breasts of two
women and 16 had cervical abnormalities.
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