By Prosper Mene
The Medical Women’s Association of Nigeria (MWAN) Taraba State Chapter, in partnership with the North East Development Commission (NEDC), unveiled a comprehensive Breast and Cervical Cancer Awareness Campaign today. The initiative, themed “Every Story is Unique, Every Journey Matters,” urges women across the region to prioritize regular screenings for early detection, aiming to slash the alarming mortality rates from these preventable diseases.
The flag-off event, held at a vibrant community gathering in Jalingo, drew hundreds of attendees, including healthcare professionals, local leaders, and women from diverse backgrounds. Dr. Echuseh Audu, President of MWAN Taraba State Chapter, opened the proceedings with a passionate address, emphasizing the campaign’s role in bridging gaps in women’s health education. “This is more than an event, it’s a commitment to saving lives through awareness, collaboration, and accessible care,” Dr. Audu declared. She highlighted how breast and cervical cancers claim countless lives annually in Nigeria due to late diagnoses, particularly among women over 50, and stressed that routine screenings could dramatically improve outcomes.
Representing the NEDC, Amahdy Gagwi Tarfa praised MWAN’s dedication and reaffirmed the commission’s unwavering support for health initiatives in the North East. “By joining forces, we are not just raising awareness; we are building resilient communities equipped to fight back,” Tarfa said. The NEDC’s involvement underscores its broader mandate to foster development in the region, including bolstering healthcare infrastructure amid ongoing recovery efforts from environmental and social challenges.
The launch featured expert-led health talks that demystified the diseases. Dr. Maryam Musa Haruna, a leading oncologist, delivered an engaging session on “Understanding Breast Cancer: Signs, Prevention, and Early Detection,” covering self-examination techniques, lifestyle factors, and the red flags like lumps or unusual discharge. Complementing this, Dr. Rakiya Jibril addressed “Cervical Cancer Awareness: The Role of Vaccination and Screening,” spotlighting the HPV vaccine’s preventive power and Pap smear tests as game-changers for at-risk groups.
Dr. Aisha Adamu, Medical Director of the Federal Medical Centre in Jalingo, hailed the campaign as a “landmark effort” for Taraba’s health sector. “We’ve seen too many stories end too soon because of silence and stigma. This partnership empowers women to own their health narratives,” she noted, calling for sustained government funding to expand screening facilities statewide.
Organizers announced that the campaign will roll out across Taraba’s rural and urban communities in the coming weeks, offering free screenings, educational workshops, and support resources. Early feedback from participants was overwhelmingly positive, with many vowing to schedule check-ups and spread the word in their networks. One attendee, a mother of three from a nearby village, shared, “I never knew a simple test could save my life. Today, I feel seen and strong.”
This initiative arrives at a critical juncture, as studies from the region indicate that while knowledge of cervical cancer risks hovers around 88% among Taraba women, screening uptake remains low due to access barriers and misconceptions.
