By Bosede Abayomi
The Defence and Police Officers Wives Association (DEPOWA), on Wednesday in Abuja donated medical equipment to the Defence Headquarters Medical Centre, as part of a 3-Day medical outreach to mark the global Cancer Awareness Month.
The equipment donated included a CTG machine, Phototherapy machine, Ultrasound Machine, Examination couch and screens among others.
The President of DEPOWA, Mrs Oghogho Musa, said the DHQ medical centre has been providing quality health services to officers and their families and the donation was to appreciate their efforts, challenges and gaps, with a view to support the facility.
According to her, the goal of the medical outreach is to reach out, create awareness, sensitise women and children on common health conditions and preventive practices.
“This is because Nigeria has one of the highest death rates among women and children, hence my passion towards supporting quality provision of maternal and child health services.
“Furthermore, October is a breast cancer awareness month, and this is important because breast cancer is the second commonest cancer in the world, while cervical cancer is the fourth most frequent cancer in women.
“These two conditions have taken lot of lives of our women and we also have positive stories of survivors amongst us which informed my 3-day medical outreach,” she added.
The DEPOWA president said they would create awareness on breast and cervical cancers, and focus on prevention and teaching women how to examine their breast at home to detect lumps early, because early detection saves lives.
She said the association would also provide free cervical cancer screening and Blood pressure check to more than 200 wives of non-commissioned officers.
“We will sensitise more than 200 adolescent girls from all tri-service schools on HPV Infection and its vaccine to prevent their generation from cervical cancer.
“Also, the children will not be left out, as DEPOWA will reach out to orphans and vulnerable children including children of our fallen heroes to encourage them on healthy practices, deworm them, provide medical services and support them with school supplies.
“Lastly, the programme will round up with free medical check-up for DEPOWA members and a road march/aerobics exercise to encourage our women to be physically active and take care of their health,” Mrs Musa said.
The president also said that the association would conduct free cancer screening for 1,000 barracks women, after the initial 200 beneficiaries.
In his remarks, the Commander, DHQ Medical Centre, Navy Capt. Victor Igboezue, thanked the DEPOWA president for the visit and donation to the hospital and patients.
He said that the gesture would go a long way in ensuring efficient service delivery, and pledged to ensure proper deployment and maintenance of the equipment.
According to him, cervical cancer screening is very important, as the disease now affects both the aged and young women.
During the breast and cervical cancer prevention talk, medical experts educated women on the need for regular check up to ensure early detection.
