Shoprite Nigeria initiates breast cancer awareness

Shoprite Nigeria has reinforced its commitment to the communities in which it operates by raising awareness around the impact of breast cancer in the country. The retail shop has partnered Run For A Cure Africa (RFCA), and periodically offers customers free breast cancer screenings at selected stores across the country.

At the opening of its 20th store recently, about 300 women were screened. Earlier in June, screening was held at Ikeja City Mall in Lagos to mark the retailer’s 10th year anniversary in the country.

Shoprite’s partnership with RFCA began in 2009, and has grown from strength-to-strength. The Shoprite Community Network provides the resources and platform for the non-profit to fulfill its mandate of fighting breast cancer in Africa by erasing societal stigmas and creating more access to screenings. 

RFCA Coordinator and Spokeswoman, Mrs. Ebele Mbanugo, expressed her gratitude for Shoprite’s support of the organisations work, adding, “I want to thank the Shoprite Community Network for its support of RFCA. With their assistance, we have been able to host five free breast cancer screenings since forging a partnership in 2014. These screenings are vitally important for the early detection of breast cancer. Currently, 75 per cent of breast cancers in Nigeria are discovered in the last stage. If detected early, the probability of survival is above 90 per cent.”

For Shoprite Nigeria’s Operations Manager, Mr. Carl Erickson, the continued support for the work being done by RFCA is important to increase education and survival rates of women impacted by the disease. “We’re glad to be able to offer consumers lower prices, convenience and a world class shopping experience, as well as to create opportunities that can possibly save lives such as the free screenings,” says Erickson.

Shoprite’s successful expansion in Nigeria over the last decade has been mirrored by its support for local community initiatives, especially in locations where its stores are based. The retailer has a comprehensive corporate social responsibility programme in place, supporting various projects in areas such as education, community support and health, all through its Shoprite Community Network.With plans in place to continue its expansion across Nigeria, Shoprite remains committed to acting for change in the communities in which it operates.