By: PRECIOUS MIRACLE KARGBO
During an intensive training held at the Wilberforce barracks for military and officer’s wives, Mrs. Cremelda Parkinson Pratt has on Thursday 19th October 2023 confirmed that the number of young people with breast cancer is on the increase and so many of them end up losing their lives because of late detection.
To start, Mrs. Parkinson explains that October is a month that has been set apart over the years to commemorate world breast cancer day by the UN and other woman activist groups, she added that this main reason why they working now with a lot organization in the country like the RSLAF, female officers and officer’s wives.
On narrating her views, Major R Sesay, Staff officer at the gender equality opportunity attached to the ministry of Defence highlights the purpose of the training as very important because before now the program of thinking pink limits it focus to only civilians but since the hierarchy of the RSLAF and also the Thinking Pink as an organization have made it necessary to screen women in the Force to help detect any sign of cancer and to prevent causing any harm to anyone at the shortest possible period.
She added that over 200 women have benefited from the program so far which involves military serving personnel and the wives of military personnel, “this program is like an eye opener towards women health issues in the life of every woman.
Furthermore, in expressing their gratitude for the introduction of this program to them as military personnel.
Major JJ Brima attached to the 34 military hospital maintains that the process is very important because a lot of women don’t have the time to do check up on themselves and as they have been trained and equipped with the knowledge and skills they will be able to detect breast cancer at a very quick motion and in turn help to save the life of women at the RSLAF.
In another lens, Isata Jabbie an officer’s wife commends the effort of Thinking pink as this process will help immensely to save the lives of every women and help proffer treatments that will save lives and this will help also to wipe away completely the doubting factor of whether someone is being affected by breast cancer or not as so many people are living with it comfortably and not knowing that they are endangering their lives to the very end.
Meanwhile, Mrs. Parkinson categorically maintains that it is essential for all women to check their menstrual cycle in every period of 5-10 days, she furthers that the number of young people with breast cancer is getting really high and this spans from the age range of (0-19), this is a new development she maintained because previously breast cancer was only detected from those age 44 upwards but now it has taken a u turn to the younger women and girls reporting with some form of breast abnormalities or even the mailgram cell otherwise known as breast cancer.
Conclusively, Mrs. Pratt sadly confirms that through the number of high cases that have been reported to their facility there has been a high number of death toll emerging from breast cancer and assures that the only prevention of breast cancer is early detection, she explains clearly that the signs every woman should look for are those lumps, rashes, gristles, bad blood or even dysfunctional shapes are all signs of breast cancer and must be reported immediately.
She closed that there is the urgent need for everyone to ensure that Breast cancer awareness message is speeded throughout the country to all women and girls so that they will be able to detect and report once they find any sign and to also ensure that they go to the hospital and consult specialists rather than traditional healers who will cause no good than more harm. Mrs. Parkinson also calls on women in Sierra Leone to engage on consuming more foods that are locally made rather than exported food products.