The World Cancer Day is celebrated February 4 for cancer awareness creation. The day is also used to advocate for support for those affected by cancer of any type world-wide. In commemoration of this year’s World Cancer Day (WCD), the Breast Cancer Association of Nigeria (BRECAN), Ondo State Chapter, organized a breast cancer awareness and advocacy outreach at Oyemekun Grammar School, Akure, Ondo State. Audience at the event included traditional rulers, religious leaders, market women, political leaders, students, community leaders and Breast Cancer Association of Nigeria (BRECAN) members comprising nurses, medical doctors, pharmacists, teachers and market women. The WCD theme for 2019- 2021 was “I am and I will”. Annually, BRECAN raises awareness on cancer through community education, encouraging collective action to fight cancer.

Giving the welcome address at the occasion, Dr. Johnson Olaniyi, a senior medical officer at the Federal Medical Center Owo, Ondo State reiterated that breast cancer remains the most common malignancy in women affecting 2.1 million women annually in the world. According to him, research have shown that breast cancer accounts for 15% of all cancer-related deaths among women. Dr Olaniyi maintained that available statistics revealed that breast cancer is the most common malignancy among women, accounting for 22.7% of all new cancer cases in Nigeria, being the highest breast cancer mortality rate of all nations.

Dr Emmanuel Onyema, a senior medical officer at the FUTA Health Centre moderated this year’s outreach stressing the importance of the gathering. Dr Onyema introduced the guest speaker for the event, Dr Oluwatoyin Ayimoro, an Associate Professor of Community Development and Women/Gender issues, Department of Adult Education at Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, Ondo State. Speaking on the title, building partnerships with community gatekeepers in cancer awareness and advocacy, Dr Ayimoro stated that the fight against cancer must be embraced by community gatekeepers in addition to health workers and advocacy groups.

According to Dr Oluwatoyin Ayimoro, communities are significant parts of societies, hence the well-being of communities in all spheres should be paramount to every individual as it fosters the building of a virile and strong sense of togetherness in any society. She identified community gatekeepers as opinion leaders as well as stakeholders who not only have grassroot influence but are also well-respected by virtue of being worthy examples in their communities. Dr Ayimoro further said community gatekeepers include religious, traditional and market leaders. She stressed that the inclusion of these key leaders in the drive against cancer was well conceived based on the roles they play in Nigerian communities. Citing from her experience on the plight of women on breast cancer, Dr Ayimoro educated the audience on preventive measures that should be adopted in making communities breast cancer-free. She urged the gatekeepers to partner with BRECAN and health care providers in the prevention and spread of breast cancer.

Before rounding off the session, Dr Ayimoro charged the female gender to be more proactive in sensitising one another on the need to undertake annual clinical breast examination carried out by health care providers. She maintained that the prevention of or early detection of cancer is vital in the control of it. The questions and answers time was coordinated by Dr Emmanuel Onyema while the guest speaker responded to questions raised by the audience. Pharmacist Bode Ogunjemiyo gave the closing remarks at the event appreciating the guest speaker for her continued commitment to advocacy on gender issues in addition to being a foremost educationist while thanking the audience. Speaking on behalf of market women, their leader, Mrs Abosede Adesina charged all mothers to help the younger generation in the fight against breast cancer by encouraging them to seek early medical attention. Taking turn to respond, representatives of secondary school girls enumerated the lessons learnt from the outreach and promised to take the message to their various schools. Also, community and religious leaders present pledged their continued partnership with BRECAN in raising awareness for breast cancer.