Access Bank Screens 200 FRSC Staff  For Breast, Cervical Cancers

The Access Bank W Initiative has screened 200 female officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in celebration of the global Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

The women were screened at the Federal Road Safety Commission office at Ojodu Berger in Lagos State.

October every year is marked worldwide as Breast Cancer Awareness Month, during which efforts are devoted to increasing attention and support for the awareness, early detection and treatment as well as palliative care of the disease.

Cancer is a disease in which abnormal cells divide uncontrollably and destroy body tissue.

The Group Head of W Initiative, Abiodun Olubitan, said the early screening and detection are still the best approaches to tackling cancers and that the Initiative would be screening about 5,000 women within this month.

Olubitan said: “October is declared the breast and cervical cancer month, and of course we have also dedicated the month as our W Health Month, which we do every year.

“W Initiative is all about inspiring, connecting and empowering women to improve their lifestyle. That is why we are screening the women for breast and cervical cancer.

“I encourage you to follow us on our social platform on: ‘@ the W community’, and you will see all the exciting things we have for this month.”

Olubitan explained that Access Bank partnered with the FRSC knowing that women in uniform do not really have time for themselves because of the nature of their jobs.

“So, we have partnered with them to ensure they can get this screening in their location, and to ensure they can know their status and know the next step to take,” she said.

W Initiative is all about inspiring, connecting and empowering women to improve their lifestyle. That is why we are screening the women for breast and cervical cancer.

The Deputy Corps Commander, Logistics RS 2.1 Lagos, Corps Commander, Tajudeen Mafe, said the partnership will enhance innovative initiatives.

Mafe, represented by the Sector Commander, RS 2.1, Lagos, Corps Commander Olusegun Ogungbemide, said the issue of breast cancer is germane to the female staff, and that they have been educated on how to examine themselves for lumps in the breast.

He said: “This effort coming from W Initiative Access Bank also goes in line with our sustainable development goals, which deal with healthy living and the wellbeing of an individual.

“We appreciate your efforts and are grateful for counting us worthy. FRSC is an elite corps and we pay paramount attention to the wellbeing of our staff because we believe that health is wealth.”

A Co-founder of Beacon Health Diagnostics, Opeyemi Ologun, said Access Bank partnered with Beacon to help carry out the screening tests during the cancer awareness programme.

Ologun advised that screening like pap smear should be carried out randomly by older women, while girls from ages 10 to 26 should get the Human Papilloma Vaccine as preventive measures against cervical cancer.

He said: “I also advise women to quit smoking. They should also regularly use condom if they have multiple sexual partners as protective measures against cervical cancer.”