LAWMA sweepers get free breast and cervical cancer screening, treatment

LAGOS, Nigeria – Hundreds of sweepers and other women engaged by Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), have got free breast and cervical cancer screening and treatment, through the agency’s collaboration with Optimal Cancer Care Foundation and Access Bank Plc.

Addressing the beneficiaries, at Ijora-Olopa, venue of the exercise, the Managing Director/CEO of LAWMA, Mr. Ibrahim Odumboni, stressed the importance of regular checks for early detection of cancer cases, noting that when cancer is detected early, it can be successfully managed for a meaningful life by the victim.

He said, “I took interest in this partnership to let you know that your well-being is our priority and we will continue to look after you. The most important thing about this, is for you to know your status and avoid having the disease, by listening to all that would be explained by the medical expert here. Prevention, they say, is better than cure”.

“I appreciate Optimal Cancer Care Foundation and Access Bank, for choosing LAWMA for this great opportunity exposed to our women. 70 percent of our workforce is women, this (the screening exercise) is to let you know that we are looking after your health”, he stressed.

Odumboni admonished the participants to be mindful of their health in the course of discharging their duties, noting the importance of getting tested to know their health status, was to serve as a preventive measure against the disease.

The Medical Director of Optimal Cancer Care Foundation, Dr. Femi Olaleye, lectured the women on self examination for early detection of cervical and breast cancer and the signs to look out for, adding that they should immediately consult their doctors, any time they noticed unusual signs.

He said his foundation offered discounted and free cancer screenings to help women, in addition to early intervention treatment, for those diagnosed with the disease.

The Head of Women Banking, Access Bank Plc, Mrs. Abiodun Olubitan, disclosed that their decision to collaborate with LAWMA and Optimal Cancer Care Foundation on the exercise, was informed by the need to create awareness and provide preliminary treatments, to women coping with the health challenge.

 She said further, that the bank had deployed a lot of resources to connect, empower and inspire women, particularly in the area of health, adding that it was important for women to regularly check themselves, to know their health status.

One of the beneficiaries of the program, Mrs. Raji Kehinde, thanked LAWMA for facilitating the event, which she described as a great opportunity to get properly educated and sensitized, on the important health issue.

She said, “I appreciate our MD’s effort. He is a kind man. This screening is such an eye opener and I have really learnt a lot. I will also tell others about what I have learnt”.

The programme also featured a question and answer session, during which the beneficiaries asked questions on health care, at the end of which they took turns to screen.