ESLF, FLAC, FUHSO Students Hold Awareness Outreach on Sexual Health & Breast Cancer Celebrating Int’l Day of the Girl.

Call it a suitable end to a month-long Breast Cancer Awareness October also known as Pink October and you will be just right. Two orphanage homes, series of sensitisation of their adolescent girls on a range of vital issues about their reproductive health, puberty, hygiene, peer pressure, boundaries sexual abuse, inappropriate touching, consent, and the need to tell a trusted adult when something feels wrong.

Also, our facilitators traversed such topics as healthy relationships, Gender-Based Violence (GBV), Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) and what may pass as the climax of the day’s sensitisation sessions: the breast cancer awareness, which was the icing on the cake especially coming at the very end of the Pink October Breast Cancer Awareness Month.The sensitisation sessions were intense.

The feedbacks were spontaneous and spot on, clearly reflective of newly empowered young participants who having gained fresh knowledge, were now equipped with the right tools to navigate through life, while confronting the challenges thrown at them by a society that could and should care more to improve the quality of their lives.

The participants were rewarded, not just with knowledge but with hygiene packs, sanitary products, toiletries, snacks, school supplies While taking a pat on the back from our grateful beneficiaries, we profoundly thank a true partner in this journey: the First Ladies Against Cancer FLAC for being in the trenches of advocacy with ESLF on this, and many other missions through the years.

We equally appreciate the invaluable efforts and youthful vibes of the vibrant members of the Local Office of the Standing Committee on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights including HIV & AIDs (SCORA) and Nigeria Medical Students Association (NIMSA), Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo Benue state with whom we executed this exercise, which was a rescue mission for some girls who have hitherto being trapped in a web of ignorance, and bogged down by a burden of misleading myths, misinformation and disinformation about their reproductive health and breast cancer.

As we wound the Pink October Breast Cancer Awareness Month to a close for this year, we leave this parting shot: take extra steps towards prevention of breast cancer which is far better and much cheaper than cure. Seek early medical care to confirm unusual signs and symptoms around the breast.