The “Arm Our Youths Health Campaign”, a technology-driven anti-breast and anti-cervical cancer initiative, commenced across the 37 orientation camps for the Batch A, Stream One, of Nigeria’s National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme.
The Programme, an initiative of the Onyebuchi Chris Ifediora (OCI) Foundation, an international NGO, is being implemented with the NYSC in collaboration with the Nigeria Cancer Society and the Nigerian First Ladies Against Cancer, as well as another NGO, Sweet Home Humanitarian Foundation.
It should be recalled that, in October 2021, the OCI Foundation trained staff of the NYSC from the 36 states and the FCT, ahead of this nationwide roll-out. The training included details of the functionalities of CerviBreast Mobile Phone Application, an anti-cancer App introduced by the Foundation to help with the early detection of Breast and Cervical Cancers.
The Foundation also launched a digital cervical cancer screening centre with Nigeria’s FCT.
In Anambra and Katsina States, the trained NYSC anchors for the Programme, Mrs. Ujunwa Ubboe and Mrs. Helen Sakyenu, informed the corps members that through the Cervi-Breast App, they would obtain the required preventive information, including Nollywood-themed videos relating to breast and cervical cancers.
According to the trainers, after the three weeks orientation and further online courses, corps members may be able to pass on the acquired knowledge to other youths in their host communities.
Our Correspondent reports that, tens of thousands of corps members in 26 states and the FCT, have so far benefited, while the remaining 11 states would be covered in days to come.
On February 3rd, wife of the President, Aisha Buhari, had launched the official commencement of this Anti-Cancer Health Campaign in Abuja.
