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,By Joe Ephraim, Calabàr
The Pink Africa Foundation, in collaboration with the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Cross River State Council, and the Medical Women’s Association of Nigeria (MWAN), has sensitised students of Government Secondary School, Akim, Calabar, on breast cancer and the importance of early detection.
The sensitisation, which formed part of activities marking the 2026 Go Pink Africa campaign, was aimed at equipping young people with knowledge about breast cancer, self-breast examination and other related health issues.
Speaking during the exercise, Executive Director of Pink Africa Foundation, Glory Egrinya-Eno, said the organisation decided to target students to enable them to understand changes in their bodies early and become ambassadors of breast cancer awareness in their communities.
Egrinya-Eno said the students were expected to take the knowledge acquired from the sensitisation back to their parents, siblings, neighbours and other members of their communities..
She said, “We are aiming to catch them young. When the students are well informed, they will be able to make informed decisions for their future and also become awareness agents.”,
According to her, late presentation remains a major challenge in the management of breast cancer, stressing that increased awareness would encourage people to seek medical attention promptly when they notice unusual changes.
She disclosed that Pink Africa Foundation had sustained its breast cancer awareness campaign for eight consecutive years, adding that the organisation also sponsors patients and uses its annual Go Pink
Day to create awareness across Calabar.
Egrinya-Eno said the foundation’s campaign had extended beyond Nigeria, with Pink Africa Foundation initiatives now present in eight African countries..
She also disclosed that the foundation provided exercise books and other writing materials to support students of the school, while some students received assistance with tuition fees.
She announced that the main Go Pink Africa 2026 event would hold on October 24 at the Government Secondary School, Akim, opposite Rwabana, Calabar.
According to her, the event would feature free breast cancer screening, post-treatment cancer screening, cervical cancer screening and eye-care services.
She urged residents of Calabar to come out en masse for the event, saying the city would be “painted pink” as part of efforts to create widespread awareness and support cancer survivors.
Also speaking, President of the Medical Women’s Association of Nigeria, Cross River State Branch, Dr Funke Sandra, said the sensitisation of students was necessary because young people needed to understand their bodies and identify abnormal changes early
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Sandra said breast cancer was the commonest cancer among females in Nigeria, noting that late presentation had remained a major concern in the management of the disease..
She said the organisation was particularly interested in reaching adolescents because many teenagers often hide changes they notice in their bodies due to fear or lack of adequate information.
“We need them to be able to speak up because we’ve noticed that most teenagers, most times, hide things that are occurring in their bodies that they feel are abnormal,” she said.
Sandra urged the students to share the information acquired with their parents, siblings and members of their communities, stressing that such a multiplier effect could significantly expand the reach of cancer awareness.
She commended the Cross River State Government and Ministry of Health for their efforts toward cancer awareness and sensitisation across the state.
In her remarks, Principal of Government Secondary School, Akim, Mrs Magdalene Akwa Asam, expressed appreciation to Pink Africa Foundation and its partners for choosing the school for the sensitisation programme.
Akwa Asam said the provision of exercise books and other support would particularly benefit students from less-privileged homes, adding that the initiative would encourage both students and teachers.
The Chairman of the NUJ Cross River State Council, Comrade Archibong Bassey, also voiced the union’s backing for the campaign, stating that journalists in the state are dedicated to utilizing their platforms to raise awareness about breast cancer and urge individuals to be attentive to changes in their breasts.
She urged members of the public to overcome fear and embarrassment associated with breast health and seek medical attention whenever they notice unusual changes.
