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Mrs Akon Oduyebo, wife of the Nigerian Army 4 Brigade Commander, on Thursday in Benin led other army officers’ wives on a roadshow to create awareness on breast cancer.
The wives, under the Nigerian Army Officers’ Wives Association (NAOWA), kicked off the roadshow from the brigade headquarters through the Airport Road to Ring Road.
The train also went through Sapele Road to Igbinedion Way before it terminated at the army brigade headquarters near Osadebe Avenue, GRA, Benin.
Members of the association distributed leaflets on information about the deadly disease to passersby, motorists and shop owners along the route.
The roadshow was later followed by a lecture, where Mrs Oduyebo, who is the Zonal Coordinator, of the association, said the activities were to mark the 2024 breast cancer awareness day of the association.
According to Oduyebo, breast cancer affects thousands of Nigerian women annually, devastating families and communities.
She said that early detection and proper care could save lives.
The NAOWA coordinator pledged the dedication of the chapter to raising awareness about both breast and cervical cancer, expressing support for research and medical care on the disease.
She commended the World Health Organisation (WHO) for its partnership as the event also featured free breast and cervical cancer screening.
Declaring the lecture open, Brig-Gen. Ebenezer Oduyebo, Commander of the 4 Brigade, said, from medical reports, there had been an emerging hope with medical advancements in the screening, diagnosis and treatment.
“Early detection through methods like mammography and self-examinations play a critical role in improving survival rates.
“The 5-year survival rate for localised breast cancer is now around 99 per cent, thanks to these breakthroughs.
He called, however, for a continuing global efforts to make breast cancer care more accessible to women in low-resource settings, particularly developing countries, like Nigeria.
The senior army officer applauded National President of NAOWA, Mrs Mariya Lagbaja, under whose directive the awareness event was being organised.
He urged the participants to reflect on the lessons from the lecture in an effort to combat the disease. NAN
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