NBA Women Storm Awka Streets with Cancer Awareness Campaign, Urge Early Detection

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Women Forum, Anambra State Chapter, has intensified calls for early cancer detection, regular medical checks and healthier lifestyles as part of efforts to improve public awareness and encourage preventive healthcare.
The call formed the focus of a health awareness walk organised by the forum in Awka, where lawyers urged members of the public to take cancer risks seriously, seek appropriate medical advice and avoid allowing fear or misconceptions to prevent them from getting screened.
The Branch Facilitator of the NBA Women Forum, Awka Branch, Obianuju Nwakpadolu, said the campaign was aimed at reminding people that early detection could improve the chances of timely treatment.
“This is our cancer awareness month—it’s all over the nation. And part of our activity at NBA Women Forum is to let us know the importance of getting ourselves checked early. Like they always say, early detection leads to early treatment,” she said.
Nwakpadolu noted that health was essential to personal well-being and professional productivity, particularly for lawyers whose demanding schedules could make them neglect routine medical checks.
“For us at NBA Women Forum, for us to have a thriving practice as a lawyer, our health is equally very, very important,” she added.
She encouraged women to pay attention to breast and cervical cancer awareness, including learning about recommended screening options and preventive measures such as human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination.
The facilitator also debunked the misconception that women with larger breasts were more likely to develop breast cancer than women with smaller breasts.
“There’s this myth people always hold on to: that people with big breasts are prone to breast cancer than people with smaller breasts. It’s not true. It’s a fallacy. It is not proven medically, and it is not true,” she said.
To encourage practical action, Nwakpadolu announced that the forum would organise free cervical cancer screening for female lawyers the following Saturday. She also called for greater government support to improve access to cancer screening and related healthcare services.
The Chairman of the NBA, Awka Branch, Nnamdi Raphael Anagor, said cancer awareness should also encourage men to pay closer attention to their health, particularly prostate health.
“Most importantly, with us men, every man, every living man has a prostate gland, and that is what we want all of us to know and be conscious of,” he said.
Anagor explained that the awareness activities had begun with health talks and lectures the previous Saturday before continuing with the fitness walk.
“This is Cancer Awareness Month, and part of what we are doing here is to commemorate the week. We started long ago from last Saturday with talks and lectures, and today we are continuing with a health fitness walk for the same purpose,” he said.
He urged men to seek professional medical advice on prostate health and appropriate screening, taking into account their age, family history and other risk factors.
Anagor also highlighted physical activity as part of a healthy lifestyle, encouraging Nigerians to make exercise a regular habit.
“Exercise is key. It reduces the chances of getting cancer both in male and female. So we encourage all and sundry to engage in walk. Very important,” he said.
The campaign highlighted the importance of turning cancer awareness into action through reliable health information, appropriate screening, timely consultations with healthcare professionals and healthier lifestyle choices.
October is widely observed as Breast Cancer Awareness Month, with activities designed to improve understanding of the disease, promote early detection and encourage access to screening and treatment.
The NBA Women Forum’s awareness walk was part of its efforts to bring these messages into the community and encourage people to make their health a priority.