As part of efforts to make this year’s International Inner Wheel Day and Cervical Cancer Awareness Month unique and more elaborate, the District 913 Chairman IWM Hon. Abimbola Solanke has allayed the fear of the youths in Moba Local Government Area (LGA) on the danger inherent with the popular disease known as Cervical Cancer.
IWM Solanke stated this at a 1 day sensitization and awareness program held in Moba Grammar School, Otun Ekiti for the students in Six major Secondary Schools in Moba LGA to commemorate 101 years of existence of International Innerwheel Club stressed that every 10th of January is earmarked as International Innerwheel day worldwide.
The District Chairman, in her address, said the United Nations declared the month of January as Cervical Cancer Awareness Month, she appreciated clubs in the district for their consistent support since her emergence as District Chairman, adding that she would continue to be an impactful leader by God’s grace.
However, the District Chairman of Innerwheel Club District 913 Nigeria, a non-governmental organization, highlighted reasons why she organized the sensitization program for the students between Age 9 to 14 years in the LGA to enable them to have early knowledge and detection of the symptoms of the virus to minimise it, if it cannot be eradicated, and to be able to nip it in the bud before it gets out of hand.
The District Chairman emphasized the benefit of the vaccine available to prevent HPV. The vaccine is provided free of charge to girls aged 9 to 14 across the Primary Health Care Department in Ekiti State. (It was made known that about 60 students in the hall have been immunised against HPV), and enjoined the students to be part of the crusade so that they can become advocates in their various homes and communities.
In her discussions with the students and other participants, the resource person, did justice to the topic, “Sensitization and creation of Awareness on prevention of Cervical Cancer” the Deputy Director, the Primary Health Care Department in Moba Local Government and a Family planning expert, Mrs Funmilayo Oso described Cervical Cancer as an abnormal growth in the cervix.
Mrs Oso spoke extensively on the symptoms, causes and prevention of Cervical Cancer and reiterated on reasons why men were not excluded from the HPV virus, she sensitised both male and female students on the existence of the virus and stressed the need for them to prevent it as early as possible.
Therefore, she attributed the major cause of cervical cancer to the Human Papilloma Virus and equally encouraged the students to engage in family planning in their future instead of involving themselves in abortion which can endanger their lives.
The three-in-one event included teachers and students from Moba Grammar School, Otun Ekiti; Eyemojo Comprehensive High School, Osan Ekiti; Epe Community High School, Epe Ekiti; Saliu Adeoti Memorial High School, Otun Ekiti; and Amazing Grace School, Otun Ekiti.
Meanwhile, the District Chairman, IWM Hon Solanke, also used the occasion to distribute sanitary pads and over-the-counter Medications and donate first aid boxes stocked with first aid facilities to the Schools in Moba LGA for the benefit of the Teachers and students and to prevent health hazards. These boxes can be used to solve minor health challenges confronting the schools.
In his remarks, the host Principal, the principal of Moba Grammar School, Mr Olugbenga Jolasanmi commended IWM Hon.Solanke for organizing such an educative talk for the students in the area, he described the gesture as laudable and significant, that will go a long way in the lives of the students.
Similarly, responding on behalf of the benefitted schools, a teacher from Osun Grammar School, Mr Omobusola Matthew and two of the students Ayodele Jesurewa and Bamigboye Goodness expressed their gratitude on the initiative of the District Chairman and promised to bring to bear what they have gained in the sensitization and awareness program organized by the DC in their future endeavors.
