The Moms and Infants Care Network (MICN), a nongovernmental organisation, has called out women and men to undergo early breast cancer screening exercise for early detection and less treatment of the killer disease that has claimed a lot of lives around the world.

The charge was given by Mrs. Lizzy Oguma, coordinator of MICN on behalf of its founder, Dr. Ebi Praise Tangbe, during the "Wear It Pink 2024: Breast Cancer Awareness Month" campaign exercise that held at the Ekpan General Hospital, Ekpan, Delta State, on Friday, October 18, 2024.

Among those that spoke at the programme are Dr. Amina Momoh, Dr. Weyimi Anne Francis, Dr. Igbapike Brown, Dr. Akpobome O. with MICN officials Daukore Igbapike (medical adviser, pharmacy), Ebimo Tobi (medical adviser, nurse), Florence Ebi Moses (logistics), Endurance Piniki (secretary), Debby Piniki (data analyst), Andy Ziko (P.R.O.), Juliet Tangbe (data analyst), Rose Moses (P.R.O.), and Labofa Ogoba, in attendance.

The programme which featured family planning for women, tuberculosis tests, checking of high blood pressure (BP) among participants is in collaboration with Warri Beke Rentals and Event, and the Delta State Hospitals Management Board Asaba, Ekpan Medical Zone. 

Speaking on the initiative, the MICN Coordinator who revealed that the NGO was founded in 2023 and has sponsored health campaigns to other West African countries, said that there is the need to reduce the death rates.

"The Moms and Infants Care Network was founded by Dr. Ebi Praise Tangbe, a doctor in public health based in the United States. She founded this organization because she saw the need for prevention as over 830 maternal deaths occur every year. So, as a doctor in public health, she wanted to help women.

"We've been to Ghana, Togo, Benin Republic, and when we went there we met school students and sensitized them about menstrual hygiene. And today, we are here for breast cancer awareness.

"Breast cancer have taken the lives of many women, however breast cancer is not only for women, but also for men. So that's why we took the initiative to create awareness and that people should come and undergo breast screening to create awareness on time, as they say, a stitch in time saves nine. Not only breast screening, but also family planning for women, tuberculosis and also to give out free gifts," she added.

On what is the next after the screening exercise, Mrs. Oguma revealed that the MICN will follow up on those who successfully underwent breast screening exercise just as she advised women to regularly go for check up.

"We always take their numbers (phone) if we see any need to call them, as our doctors are stationed around in different hospitals. So when we see the need for any emergency, we need to call the person and the doctor will follow up.

"My advice to women is always go and check. First of all, as a woman, how do you know the signs? There are simple things you can do at home. First of all, when you notice anything, quickly run to your doctor. Those women around today has known how to check their breast at home before coming to the doctor. But we are still advising, in between three months go and see your doctor, to also check if there is any sign," she cautioned.

A beneficiary, Mrs. Iyorakpo Helen, who was gifted wipers and baby diapers from participating in a give-away game competition, thanked the MICN for organising such a programme to create awareness on breast cancer and how women can perform self-test on themselves.

"I came for the breast cancer and I was able to also do my free implants on family planning as well. So, it was a nice one and it was well organized. I really appreciate the fact that they did this for the women. It has really helped us the women to know that there's something called breast cancer. And I'm really appreciative of what they did today," she said.

The MICN as an NGO fosters equitable environment that protects, improve, and promote optimal health and wellbeing for mothers, children and families, with focuses on reducing maternal and child death/illness, increased skills of traditional birth attendants, improve medical health, increase access to high quality and culturally competent health services for families, and to advance research across translational spectrum for mother child health (MCH) population.

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