Report of a Community-Based Cancer Awareness Project by Center for Economic Empowerment and Gender Activities (CEEGA) submitted to CISCANEN Abuja
Center for Economic Empowerment and Gender activities is one of the organizations assigned to take part in the community-based cancer awareness project in Sagamu Local government engaged in the following activities to achieve the stated goals and objectives of the community-based cancer awareness project:
Goal of the project: To build and sustain community support for appropriate cancer prevention, diagnosis, and treatment behavior.
The following objectives are achieved:
- Create awareness and sensitize community members about cancer awareness.
- To help people recognize early signals and symptoms of cancer
- Network with stakeholders on the promotion of the community based on the cancer awareness project.
- Inform people about the importance of a cancer checkup at an early stage.
Activities carried out
Advocacy visits: This was done to relate the stakeholder to the project goal and objectives, to gain their full support, especially in the aspect of expertise during the project implementation. It entailed advocacy visits to key stakeholder who control access to resources and act as change agent in the private and public sectors. This visit was done with market leaders, women groups, Director of PHC, Head of five facilities centers and Olabisi Onabanjo Teaching Hospital Uplift Cancer Screening Center.
The organization was able to visit 12 stakeholders in Sagamu Local Government. In all the advocacy conducted, the stakeholders appreciated the project and ready to support the team in any way they could. The market leaders helped mobilize more women during the screening and awareness creation.
Advocacy visit to the Director of PHC Sagamu
Legacy PHC Isale oko
Community Mobilisation: This was carried out to inform the people about the screening and awareness creation on cancer that took place on 21st March 2018, the mobilization took place around market areas, garages, and at the center of the community, while pamphlets on cancer were shared during the mobilization processes. Here, more than 1200 people were reached because almost all the pamphlets were shared.
Production of Pamphlets: The production of one thousand, five hundred fliers was done on pelvic cancer to inform the community on the prevention and symptoms of pelvic cancer and where to go for treatment.
Collaboration: The organisation collaborated with a community based organisation – Glorious women forum to ensure the effectiveness of the project in the area of screening and awareness creation.
Screening exercise: The screening exercise on pelvic cancer took place at the Local government health department by the Director of PHC on 23rd of March, fifty women were screened at the rate of 300 naira each (subsidized rate) on pelvic cancer and in which two out of them were detected to have sign of pelvic cancer, they were then referred to Olabisi Onabanjo Teaching Hospital for proper treatment, follow up of the cases is on progress and presently they are to be examined again for proper understanding of their cases.
Pix showing women waiting to be screened
Pix shows a woman ready to be a facilitator.
Awareness workshop: This took place at the local government secretariat on 23rd of March. More than 100 women and few men attended the workshop, also stakeholders were invited from the teaching hospital, local government and formidable women groups. After registration, opening prayer and key note addressed was said by the organiser, The Director of CEEGA, the workshop commenced with the first facilitator speaking on the meaning, types, symptoms and preventions of cancer.
The first facilitator in person of Pharm. Odukoya representing DR Solarin the Local govt. PHC Director spoke extensively on the causes, symptoms and treatment of cancer, she said two types of cancers are very common among women in this environment, these are breast and cervical cancer while prostrate is common among men, some of the causes of cancer could be seen as negligence, types of food we eat, personal hygiene, sexual transmitted infection, she said roughly 99 percent of cervical cancers are caused by sexual transmitted infection, She further explained that blood spots or light bleeding between or following periods, bleeding after intercourse, vaginal discharge, pain during intercourse and pain in the lower abdomen could be the symptoms of cervical cancer and for the breast cancer she said this could be discovered through change in the size of one or two breast, change in skin texture, bloody discharge from nipple, presence of breast lump, swelling in armpit etc. She said breast self-examination is the best way to discover this earlier, she demonstrated that breast self-examination consists of looking and feeling one’s breast for any area of abnormality such as a lump that is not painful or tender. She then implored women to go for regular checkup of their body if they notice any changes or not to prevent them from any dangerous diseases that could affect their lives.
Matron Adeyuga also dwelled more on the breast cancer saying it is a deadly disease if not quickly discovered, she said it killed her immediate sister when it was not quickly discovered which is very painful to her despite her health personality, she then pleaded with women to do more of checkup and go to appropriate places for treatment. She said they should desist from using herbs to cure cancer because they are not related at all, instead could endanger the situaton more, she concluded that precisely, government hospital is the best places to treat such cases. Also Mrs. Agbana from APIN HivAids women association spoke on the need for women to do regular checkup to be free from any illness that will jeopardize their effort in life. She said cancer cases are becoming rampant in our environment this day and people keep on given different dimension to it. She said another case on cancer is that of virginal cancer which is rampant in the society now but cannot say precisely that this is the cause but people are assuming that washing of virginal with soap is the main cause but implored participants to listen to the saying for prevention sake. And she prayed that none of us here shall witness cancer in our life but said that participants should also go to inform friends, neighbors and others in the society to be watchful and do regular checkup for not to be a cancer victim
One of the Facilitator Presenting
Lastly, the wife of the LGA chairman, in person of Mrs. T. Gafaru compelled the organiser for a job well done; she said this kind of forum should be a continuous process to enlighten the public more on their health matters which will have a greater impact on people’s life. She said more men should also be invited next time to listen to this kind of forum because they will also benefit. She then promised that she will make sure that these kind of forum on health matters is reciprocate in the local government for better health service delivery. She then implored participants that as they listened to the facilitators, they should act as change agents in their various environment to inform people about cancer and prevention because government and this kind of organiser cannot do it alone.
A cross-section of participants during awareness
- More than 1000 participants were reached during advocacy, mobilisation and awareness creation on community cancer awareness project. Most especially during mobilisation more populace were enlightened on cancer.
- Women are now aware of early signal of cancer for immediate attention.
- Stakeholder’s readiness to collaborate on cancer and other health problems.
- Community members now see the need for regular checkup.
- Two victims detected on early pelvic cancer occurrence.
During mobilisation people expected that they would be paid despite information given to them that no money was attached to mobilisation only refreshment would be given, yet some women were still demanding for transport fare.
Most PHC visited were asking what will be there benefit at the end of the programme despite their high knowledge on community development work.
Lesson learnt During the mobilisation it was discovered that the fliers printed could had been inscribed in with mobile numbers for proper information. More people were ready to go on for screening but due to financial constrained we were to stop at fifty numbers. Women willingness to observe the screening showed that they were more enlightened on regular checkup.
NOTE: Financial report and other documents like pictures, advocacy forms, attendance sheets and sample of fliers produced will be sent with the programme report via DHL or other means.
