Women
WCD: Foundation Partners NAWOJ, Others On War Against Cancer …Free Breast Cancer Screening For 10,000 Women Underway
As the world commemorates World Cancer Day which is the second leading cause of death globally, Engraced Life Foundation in collaboration with Rumuokuta Old Girls Association (ROGA), Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Rivers State Chapter, among others, have advocated for early detection of breast cancer which they claim saves lives. The event tagged ‘ELF World Cancer Day Pink Room’ was endorsed by the Rivers State Ministry of Health.
World Cancer Day, 2022 was dubbed ‘Close The Care Gap,’ and the event which held at GGSS, Rumuokuta last Friday, in Port Harcourt, featured a symposium on breast care and breast health for young girls, 200 free braziers/sanitary pad distribution and free breast screening for teachers, as part of activities to ensure a cancer free society.
Speaking with The Tide Correspondent, the Founder and Team Leader of Engraced Life Foundation, a stage four breast cancer survivor, Ada Ethel Olomu, stated that the foundation was birthed out of compassion and the painful breast cancer experience she went through and having survived cancer by the grace of God, decided to help women, become aware and guard against the scourge, called cancer that almost claimed her life years ago.
Olomu explained that Engraced Life Foundation decided to embark on the campaign to Government Girls Secondary School, Rumuokuta, to promote Breast Self Awareness (BSA) at an early age; a proactive sensitization that would significantly reduce the malignancies of breast cancer in our community.
She revealed that the nationwide breast cancer awareness and free screening campaigns the foundation has been embarking on since 2021 to date, loas to create the necessary awareness which NAWOJ is already helping them to achieve; for women and girls to get the right information on how to perform monthly breast examination and inculcate the habit as well as know their health status, thereby reducing the mortality rate of breast cancer in the society significantly.
The Foundation as well as NAWOJ appealed to critical stakeholders, well meaning individuals to financially support the enormous tasks the foundation is saddled with, especially in achieving their set goals to screen 10,000 women this year as well as sponsor 25 women suffering from breast cancer to get treated.
In her statement, Olomu said: “Last year October, we screened over 5000 women during the Rivers State Breast Cancer Awareness and Free Screening campaign organised by the foundation in eight different locations. We visited communities in Obio Akpor Local Government Area, Borokiri, Okrika, Isiokpo amongst others. Earlier, we were in Nnewi, Kirikiri Female Correctional Facility, Gbagada and Yenagoa. The rampaging breast decay and level of ignorance we witnessed during these campaigns is our motivation for planning to reach out to more women this year’’.
According to her, our goal is to provide free breast cancer screening for 10,000 women, as well as provide treatment support for at least 25 women and champion awareness to reach over two million persons through the help of our media partners and online platforms. We provide a supportive community to help breast cancer patients during treatment and after.
‘‘The cost of treatments and crusading against breath cancer runs into millions; we cannot fight this alone. Cancer is no respecter of persons or status; to win, we plead with everyone to do their part to ‘Close the Care Gap’ as headlined by this year’s World Cancer Day theme. We count on well meaning individuals, private sectors and the government for their financial assistance,” she said.
The founder, Engraced Life Foundation sincerely thanked NAWOJ and other volunteers for their unflinching support, expressing hope that together they would be able to achieve set goals to have a cancer free society in the soonest.
Olomu urged all women and young girls to ensure they go to the hospital should they notice any abnormality in their breast for early check, as breast cancer risk increases with age, adding that women must ensure to always go for regular breast screening for early detection of cancer if any before it leads to death. She encouraged women who are screened of breast cancer not to be afraid of chemotherapy, and maintained that breast cancer is not a death sentence.
On her part, the Chairperson, Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Rivers State Chapter, Susan Serekara-Nwikhana, stated that all NAWOJ wants to see is a society, a Rivers State free of cancer, hence their reason to partner with Engraced Life Foundation to make the dream and vision a reality.
Serekara-Nwikhana added that NAWOJ Rivers State which has the sole responsibility of amplifying the voice of the suffering masses as well as help the vulnerable women and girls in the society, would as well embark on aggressive sensitisation campaign and awareness to every nooks and cranny of the state so as to achieve a cancer free state.
She, however, appealed to relevant authorities, well meaning individuals to help those living with breast cancer by building free Chemotherapy centres across the country, to enable cancer patients get free access to treatment, same way those living with HIV/AIDs have access to free treatment.
“What NAWOJ Rivers State wants to see in collaborating with Engraced Life Foundation on this war against cancer to GGSS, Rumuokwuta is to see Rivers State and country at large become a Rivers State and country Cancer free’’, she noted.
Serekara-Nwikhana said that the aim of the awareness was to have a cancer-free society in the state and the country at large, adding that with the new drive and partnership with the Rivers State Ministry of Health, Engraced life Foundation, women in the state would be more aware of what to do to be free from breast cancer disease.
She emphasised that it was a good thing to visit the school at this point in time when the cancer disease is rampaging more women and girls in our society, so as to catch them young, noting that if they become aware and are able to teach one another, the society will be cancer free.
A Medical Doctor working with the Rivers State Ministry of Health, Dr. Sandra Abolo, participating in the event as one of the four panelists for the ELF World Cancer Day Pink Room symposium, stated that breast cancer is one of the second commonest cause of mortality, but early detection of it could be prevented and treated.
“This is why we advocate on a day like the world cancer day that people should go and get screened for cancer, because breast cancer, cervical cancer, prostate cancer are preventable, it can be tackled early if people go to hospital,” she said.
Abolo mentioned some of the risks factors of cancer as unhealthy diets, sedentary lifestyle without exercise, obesity, smoking and excessive alcohol consumption.
The Principal of the Senior Secondary School, (GGSS) Rumokwuta, Mrs Sylvaline Ogwuzuo, commended the organisers for their wide sensitisation programme, and called on the students and teenage girls to learn the routine check of breast self awareness examination and inform their parents when they notice any abnormality on their breasts.
Other speakers included Social Media Influencer/UNICEF Certified Sexual and Reproductive Health Master Trainer, Mrs Ella Umeh-Ezeailieje, A Nurse, Blessing Dum-Mene, and lecturer, Rivers State University, Boma Omubo Pepple.
Highlights of the event was the distribution of Bra to the students as well as Free Breast Screening for female teachers and guests.
By: Susan Serekara-Nwikhana
IVY-K Fashion by Igiebor Daddy Lucky, a Nigerian-born designer now based in the UK, has launched the latest menswear line, Dapper Man.
One of the collection’s strengths is its classic, clean aesthetic. Dapper Man delivers sharp, structured suits in a timeless black and white color scheme that exudes a sense of luxury and professionalism. The use of high-quality fabrics like wool and silk ensures that the suits not only look high-end but also feel luxurious to the wearer. The designer’s focus on detail is evident in the meticulous tailoring, with fitted blazers and crisp trousers forming the foundation of the collection.
Where IVY-K Fashion shines is in the subtle yet elegant touches. The inclusion of beads as embellishments on lapels and cuffs adds a unique flair, blending traditional craft with modern tailoring. This nod to African heritage gives the collection a distinct identity, offering something more personal and culturally significant than your standard menswear line.
However, despite the elegance of the Dapper Man collection, there is a lingering sense of missed opportunity. The black-and-white color palette, while classic, feels overly safe. In a fashion landscape where bold colors and daring patterns often make the strongest impact, the collection could benefit from incorporating more vibrant hues or experimenting with unconventional fabrics. Pushing the envelope with color or texture could elevate these designs from simply elegant to truly memorable.
In addition, while the tailoring of the blazers and trousers is immaculate, the collection lacks a sense of playfulness or modern edge that many contemporary menswear lines are embracing. The suits are undoubtedly stylish, but the collection as a whole leans heavily on tradition. Experimenting with asymmetrical cuts, bold patterns, or even layering could add an exciting dimension to Dapper Man. The challenge is to maintain the sleek sophistication of the collection while infusing it with a fresh, innovative spirit.
Another area that could use improvement is the overall cohesion of the collection. While the suits are well-crafted, there is a feeling of repetition across the pieces. More variation in design, such as different lapel styles, pocket configurations, or even bolder accessories, would give the collection greater diversity and visual interest.
In conclusion, Dapper Man by Igiebor Daddy Lucky showcases the designer’s strong grasp of classic tailoring and elegant design, but to truly capture the attention of a broader audience, IVY-K Fashion would benefit from more daring choices. By infusing the collection with bold colors, unexpected textures, and a more modern edge, Dapper Man could move from a well-crafted line to a trendsetting force in men’s fashion. With such a solid foundation, there’s no doubt that Igiebor Daddy Lucky has the potential to lead his brand toward greater heights
The trend of indecent dressing all in the name of fashion is fast becoming a norm in our generation and society at large. Most married women embrace this fashion as competition with single ladies.
Different scholars have given an in depth insight about dressing as a tool of communication. Non-verbal communication has been asserted as the communication between people by the means of signs or symbols. It conveys what we wish to disseminate to the public as either intentionally or not.
According to Paul Ekman and Michael Argyle, communication is carried out through what has been classified as “Presentational Code”. He listed nine codes of non-verbal communication, as body contact, facial expression, gestures, postures, eye movement, proximity, orientation, head nods and appearance.
This, being stated, married and single ladies should understand that their mode of dressing is communicative be it directly or indirectly as such body parts we call “private” are now being made public because of the trends or wearing of transparent dresses and this in turn calls on the attention of men who are weak and prone to illicit thoughts thus, resulting to most rape cases in our society.
This indecent dressing by most ladies has denied many their future husbands. The truth is that a man is attracted to his kind; his desires in marriage. It is often asserted that decency and beauty are in the eyes of the beholder, yet, in trending times of this 21st century, dress code and fashion in nudity form is gaining popularity.
This has become complicated as most men tend to toggle between their emotions (lust) and sanity (rationality) in terms of marriage, thereby setting a wrong foundation upon which most marriages are consummated.
On the other hand, most married women have embraced the trend of indecent dressing nipping it on the state of it being the choice dressing, approved by their spouses, leaving society with the question of what “responsible” man would prefer that the secrecy of the benefit of his marital vow has become the centre of attraction and viewership by the general public.
Hence, communicating with their dressing gas given licence to every male gender who is interested or attracted to what they see to make unsolicited sexual passes at them, which might be considered embarrassing.
At this juncture, it is important to state that ladies should dress decently knowing that they are the epitome of nation-building, they are nation-builders, character moulders and pacesetters not just in the lives of their families but to the society at large.
In most occasions, there are no clear border lines between the married women and the single ladies because of the rate of scanty dressing which has close the gap of differences.
Women and girls should embrace this call awakening to decent mode of dressing. Dresses that are meant to be worn indoors should remain indoors.
It is worrisome to see ladies wear shorts that are supposed to be worn in the living room on the streets without shame. This is an awakening call to our ladies, married and singles that the opposite sex do not expose their private body parts for the public. Sometimes, the ladies go about in the streets without wearing brazziers as to showcase their nipples.
The society should be sanitised of the menace of indecent dressing that is lurking and taking over the entire nooks and crannies of the society and the nation at large.
Let it be known that he or she is addressed in the manner he or she is dressed. There may be no room for a second impression. To the single ladies, your dressing decently will not stop you from meeting your Mr Right rather, it will increase your stake and place you on the list of most valued women in the society.
Dressing speaks louder than words.
Kate Chisom Isiocha
Isiocha is an OND final year student of Temple Gate Polytechnic.
