Cancer Trust Fund

MWAN Rivers State Branch commemorates 2020 World Cancer Day by setting up a Cancer Trust Fund

Health Promotion
We had radio and tv appearances with wide coverage and large following audience to create awareness on cancer in English and Pidgin English.
Visits to the antenatal and post-natal wards were over 40 women were counselled on self breast examination and need for a pap smear during their 6 weeks post-natal visit.

Advocacy
Advocacy visits were held with the Heads of hospitals particularly the CMD of RSUTH, who pledged support for the use of the Mammogram machine for screening and the Permanent Secretary, RSPHCMB who donated towards the endowment fund for indigent cancer patients.

Cancer Trust Fund
An online crowd-funding was done to reach out to well meaning individuals and partners of MWAN towards supporting the treatment of indigent cancer patients. Proceeds of which were used to support cancer patients during the visitation. 3 cancer patients were supported in ancillary treatment such as drugs, blood transfusion and surgery.

Welfare Visits to in-patient cancer survivors
With the funds gotten, 15 women with various forms of cancers, most of whom were breast cancer were encouraged with cash gifts, fruits and toiletries at the tertiary hospitals in the state, RSUTH and UPTH. 3 indigent patients (2 in RSUTH and 1 in UPTH) were identified to be sponsored for surgery. The patients were also encouraged by cancer survivors from the Elpis Sapphire Foundation. In attendance were 20 medical women including Past NP, Dr. Claribel Abam, Founder and Initiator Dr. Bernadette Korubo and Past President, Dr. Olukunmi Ijeruh.

Cancer prevention activities Free mammogram screening exercise for 150 women spanning 7 LGAs was also flagged off on the day.