By Kumba Leigh
October is identified globally as cancer awareness month and the Gambian First Lady Madam Fatou Bah Barrow has joined the advocates for cancer-free world on a massive awareness raising campaign. On October 16th she presided over the launching of a free breast cancer testing exercise in Brusubi.
While touring the screening and awareness campaign centres in Bundung, Banjul and Westfield on Saturday, October 29th Madam Bah Barrow announced that she is donating a mammography machine to the Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital.
Mammography is the process of using low-energy X-rays to examine the human breast for diagnosis and screening with the goal of early detection of breast cancer.
The First Lady noted that education and sensitization, as well as breast scanning and screening are some of the best ways to fight breast cancer.
She expressed President Barrow and his government’s commitment to the fight against cancer and for better health care service delivery at large.
She went on to make reference to the WHO’s report 2020, which indicates that 2.3 million women were diagnosed with breast cancer, and six hundred and fifty thousand deaths recorded globally.
“According to WHO, one of the most effective tools in the fight against breast cancer is self-examination and breast clinical examination”.
First Lady Bah Barrow went on to note that her foundation deems it fitting to train health care providers, including on cancer care; which has commenced since 2018.
Also speaking, Health Minister Dr Ahmed Lamin Samateh informed that his ministry in collaboration with First Lady’s foundation will soon make the Bundung Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital an enhancement centre for women infertility and that they will soon have extra buildings to accommodate deliveries for women in labour.
Other speakers were Fatou Kinteh, Minister of Gender, Women and Children’s Welfare; and Abubacarr Jah C3G, President Qcell. They both called for intensification of awareness creation.
