As Breast Cancer Awareness Month draws to a close, the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Lagos State Chapter, has called for strengthened collaboration among stakeholders to enhance access to care for women battling breast cancer across Nigeria.
Chairperson of the Lagos Chapter, Mrs. Jumoke Falayi-Johnson, in a statement issued in Lagos, said improving care pathways and removing bottlenecks would significantly increase survival chances for affected women.
She emphasized that the World Health Organization’s Global Breast Cancer Initiative (GBCI) 60-60-80 strategy provides a viable roadmap to reducing mortality rates and ensuring better outcomes for women.
Falayi-Johnson explained that the WHO model proposes that:
- 60 percent of all invasive breast cancers should be diagnosed no later than stage 2,
- A definitive diagnosis should be made within 60 days of presenting to a healthcare professional, and
- At least 80 percent of women should complete their treatment successfully.
Quoting this year’s theme, “Every Story is Unique, Every Journey Matters,” she noted that proper awareness, access to diagnosis, and timely treatment could save countless lives.
“When a woman battling breast cancer sees the support and structures in place to ensure her survival, she is encouraged to fight harder. It’s a chain link — support, structure, and survival,” she said.
The NAWOJ Chairperson further called on policymakers, healthcare providers, and development partners to prioritize awareness and affordable treatment, stressing that women in rural communities deserve the same opportunities for care as those in urban centres.
“We can change the statistics if we all play our part. The woman in a remote village should not fight alone. Whether you are in Alausa, a hospital in Ikeja, or a newsroom in Obalende, you can help ensure she survives,” she added.
Falayi-Johnson reaffirmed NAWOJ Lagos’ commitment to advocacy and partnership that bridge the gap between patients and healthcare providers.
“As an association, we will continue to be the bridge between those living with breast cancer and those whose duty it is to help them survive. Let’s end breast cancer by ensuring it doesn’t end more lives,” she said.