Why You Must Avoid Cervical Cancer Now.

The world celebrates everyday of the year for different reasons. December 10th is International Human Rights Day and plans and preparations are under way to sensitize the citizens in different fields. Kapital FM spoke with Irene Awuna-Ikyegh, the president of Association Of Aliwe Daughters’ International-AADI. Below are the reason women need to keep a date with this association.

The Association Of Aliwe Daughters’ International is poised to have interventions in female related situations, Tell us more about the aims and visions of your association.

The Association of Aliwe Daughters International (AADI) is a nongovernmental organization of Tiv women in FCT with the aim of giving support to members, sensitizing, empowering and protecting the rights of women and children of their origin. AADI is registered with the corporate affairs commission in Nigeria. In the last three years the organisation has given succour to the internally displayed people in Abuja, by donating food items, clothing, educational materials and mosquito nets to the camps in area one / Durumi parts of Abuja. On October one this year AADI was at the National hospital to visit the three paediatric wards, the post Natal and the female surgical wards. There, they donated food items, toiletries and paid some hospital bills of children who had no parents or wards to pay their bills.

Why Cervical Cancer this year? Is that the worse female situation at the moment?

Cancer is one of the leading causes of death. It accounted for about 8.2 million deaths in 2015 worldwide. Most cancers can be prevented if routine checks and vaccines are administered to individuals who are predisposed. There are various forms of cancers; however, our campaign is focusing on Cervical Cancer because about 84 per cent of cervical cancer cases occur in less developed countries with the highest incidence in Africa. Cervical cancer is a disease that occurs in females that and women become susceptible to developing cervical cancer following infection with the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), but other environmental factors are required for the cancer to develop. Like all other forms of cancer, there is no known cure for Cervical Cancer, there is however, a vaccine called Gardasil that is used in the national NHS cervical cancer vaccination programme. Gardasil protects against the two types of HPV, between them responsible for more than 70% of cervical cancers otherwise the key to survival is early detection.
It is a known fact that many cancers have a high chance of cure if detected early and treated adequately. This is what our intervention hopes to do.

My Body My Right… Presents a mental picture of a young girl fighting for her body. Whats the behind story? The motivation?

In recent times young mothers have been diagnosed with this at a critical stage when survival chances are slim.
AADI is targeting girls of puberty age to catch them young with the awarenes of their body, sencitising them against some negative behavours, and getting them vassinated. A young girl who is aware of her right and responsibilty to get screened and access vacssine is equipped with all survivor strategies. We believe if we arrest their consciousness at this age we will have a more informed and cervical cancer free generation of women in few decades .

What are the aspirations of this year’s campaign outreach?

We intend to reduce the burden of Cervical Cancer in the FCT by Improving the knowledge of over 200 girls and women on the causes of cervical cancer and preventive measures .
Mobilize resources including technical and advocacy to ensure early detection and access treatment by screening of women,as those found positive will be refereed to the Society for Family Health Center Karo for treatment accordingly.
Finally encourage the Vaccination against Cervical Cancer by young girls.

What calibre of women are you targeting?
We are targeting young girls of puberty age, all women who are sexually active and of child bearing age,even those who have hit the age of monopause.

Why is it important for these targeted persons?

If the knowledge of over 200 girls and women about the causes of cancer for prevention will be improved,they are screened and those with symptoms promptly referred.
Others take vaccination against Cervical Cancer it will go along way in improving the wellbeing and quality of life of women who will participate in the project,they will in turn educate others.

What will partcipants walk away with from the event, apart from screening?

A platform will be established to continue to enlighten other women on cancer as well as keep the messages on the front burner for those who already know.

The beneficiaries will be issued with questionnaires to assess their knowledge on cancer before the intervention, and after the intervention, the same questionnaire will be issued and a comparative analysis will be done. This will indicate if any learning had taken place. It will also form the basis of the report.

What activities are to be expected on that day?

10th Dec ,8am to 10am
Awareness walk from Federal secretariat to national human right commission is from 9am to 6pm. The outreach: screening and vaccination will be taking place at the National women development center banquet hall opposite CBN central business district Abuja.

10am to 1pm
Doctors will deliver papers that are targeted at encouraging women to modify and avoid risk behaviours
Educating them on Preventive measures such as vaccination
Screening .

1pm to 3pm Award ceremony for Ambassadors of My Body My Right Cervical cancer campaign.

Who are your partners and what are they offering?

Eunice Spring of Life Foundation owned by the Wife of the Governor of Benue State Dr Mrs Eunice Ortom. The National Human Right Commission :providing logistics for the awareness walk, Society for Family Health Development Agency: providing Doctors and equipment for screening, National Primary Health Care :Advocacy, National center For Women Development: Gave discount for the venue, Management Sciences For Health Nigeria (MSH) : providing advocacy and sensitisation, Catholic Women Organisation of Nigeria: Providing sensitisation and mobilisation of women, Abuja Municipal Area council and Bwari area council are mobilising women, Medeve laboratory K/ala : technical assistance Media partners include Ahemdo Media consult, Fabmimiblog,Leadership Newspaper, Kapital FM, AIT, NigeriaInfo and WAZOBIA FM

Any last word to potential participants?

We are still open to more collaboration and sponsorship from well meaning Nigerians. We encourage all women living within the FCT and its environment to take advantage of this life saving opportunity.