Women have been charged to take their health seriously by consistently checking their breasts for lumps and reporting to the hospital as soon as there is a cause of concern.

A member of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Moses Essien gave this charge on Saturday, October 7, 2023 during the 2023 Awareness Campaign Walk on Breast Cancer organized by the Only Believe Care Foundation in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

The walk, which began at the water fountain by Nwaniba and ended at the Ikpa Road roundabout by University of Uyo, was themed “Empower your Health” and had in attendance influential members of society as well as residents who volunteered to be part of the campaign.

Essien, who is also the Chairman of the House Committee on Health, expressed his happiness and enthusiasm about the message that is being spread, noting that the walk could not have happened at a better time as it is important that this sensitization should educate and help curb the deaths caused by cancer.

“This awareness exercise is a timely and commendable precautionary measure taken to avoid the havoc usually wrecked by the spread of this disease in the human body.”

He expressed his appreciation to the State Governor, Umo Eno for ensuring the availability of basic public healthcare in all the local governments of the state, stating that this will help immensely in the treatment of the disease.

“I am equally appreciative of the Executive Governor of Akwa Ibom State for setting up healthcare facilities in the 31 Local Government Areas of the state to address the health challenges of the people.”

The founder of Only Believe Care Foundation, Imaobong Essien, who said she is a survivor of this deadly disease, reiterated that it is very important for women to be consistent in checking for symptoms of the disease as early detection and treatment saves lives.

She further stated that a cancer diagnosis is not the end of one’s life as a lot can be done to prevent death.

“Cancer is not a death sentence if preventive measures are taken beforehand. Even upon diagnosis, so much can be done to ensure that the patient doesn’t die as a result of the disease.

She explained that the aim of the walk was to dispel fear in the minds of people about the disease as well as sensitive the general public to cancer to avoid stigmatization of the people battling with the disease.