In a bid to improve the health of Nigerian women, the Rotary Club of Ikoyi has held a free breast cancer screening for residents of Obalende, Lagos. The event, which took place as part of the club’s ongoing commitment to health initiatives, was hailed as a crucial step in promoting early detection and treatment of breast cancer.

The immediate past President of the club, Funsho Gbogboade, emphasised the significance of breast cancer screening as a legacy project for the club. She said that the initiative, which began under her leadership, had been adopted by the current President, Emmanuel Efuntayo.

“Early detection is critical, and this exercise is the first of three phases in our plan,” she said. The screening was sponsored by Ikoyi Club 1938, with Gbogboade expressing deep gratitude for their support, saying: “We can’t thank Ikoyi Club 1938 enough for this sponsorship. The Chairman, TafaZibiri Aliu, and the members have demonstrated immense commitment to the fight against breast cancer. Thousands of women will benefit from their generosity.”

Meanwhile, the Coordinator of the cancer screening and a member of the club, Dr Jumbo Douglas, lamented the continued rise in breast cancer cases.

“The rate of breast cancer is not diminishing, and we must act. This is the first phase, and we plan to conduct screenings in other locations,” he noted.

Also, health professionals in attendance stressed the importance of early detection.

Health Educator LejiOlawunmi of Ikoyi Obalende Local Council Development Area (LCDA) said that catching cancer early significantly reduces the risk of fatalities.

Similarly, the Medical Officer of Health at the Ikoyi Obalende LCDA Health Centre, Akintayo Akintola, urged women to perform regular self-examinations and seek medical attention if they notice any abnormalities.