By Ogechukwu Agwu

Medical Women Association of Nigeria(MWAN) has over the years done a lot of screening especially breast and cervical cancer screening with religious organisations in local govt areas or where they find women.

President of MWAN, Lagos State Chapter, Dr Abiola Modupe, said over the years they have been able to secure a centre at Ebutte metta, Lagos, for health care. ‘We’ve been able to procure a machine that carry screening procedures but there is still so many things that we need, clerotherapy, mammogram.We also undertake blood pressure screening, glucose screening, HIV screening, dental checks, eye tests.

Related News

‘This year, Medical Women Association of Nigeria, Lagos Chapter, turns 40, we have a few programmes which include our screening activities. We are interested and passionate about women and child health. This does not in any way undermine the health of men. But we all know that women and children are the vulnerable groups and that is why we are interested in them. We have done a lot of collaborations with the Lagos State Government, the ministries of health and environment, we have done collaborations also with various companies in the private sector,  we do a lot of mentoring. We have gone into primary, secondary and tertiary institutions to do health education and promotion. With the media we talk about medical issues that are of public health importance. We are also very passionate about anything that will promote health. Presently , we have noticed that cancers are on the increase, So we concerntrate on female cancer specifically breast and cervical cancer.’

Former President, MWAN, Lagos State Chapter, Dr Dumebi Owa, said MWAN is not left behind in the Lagos centre of excellence and has done very well in so many areas and particularly in screening of cancers of cervix and breast. We are passionate about it not only because we are women because we know that women are facing many issues and are usually put at the back burner.

Assistant Secretary-General, Dr Yemisi Kila, said, ‘one of the programmes lined up as part of our anniversary is the scientific conference which has been established as part of the AGM activities in which stakeholders, policymakers will come together to look at the current trends in health and preventive care in the health sector and this year’s theme is ‘Women Health and Empowerment Tools for Sustainable Development in the Health Sector’.