By Kemi Akintokun
The BRICON Foundation, an NGO, on Tuesday donated free mastectomy bras and breast prostheses to breast cancer survivors as part of activities marking its 10-year anniversary.
The Co-Founder of the foundation, Mrs Abigail Simon-Hart, said the intervention, held at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, aimed to support survivors who underwent breast removal surgery.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that breast prosthesis and bra are artificial breast form and matching undergarment used to restore shape, weight, and balance after breast surgery like a mastectomy.
Simon-Hart, who is also a breast cancer survivor, said the donation was part of activities lined up to mark the 10-year anniversary of the foundation established in 2016.
She said a total of 600 breast prostheses and 300 bras were donated to women at the programme.
Simon-hart said cancer patients deserved holistic support, including care for their families, economic empowerment and assistance throughout survivorship.
“Life after cancer deserves as much attention as treatment.
“Survival is not just about defeating cancer, but also about rebuilding lives.
“We are donating breast prostheses and mastectomy bras because survivors need proper fitting after mastectomy surgery.
“Many cancer patients loose everything during treatment because cancer is financially toxic and they struggle to rebuild their lives and livelihoods,” she said.
She noted that the foundation had supported cancer patients since inception through treatment, counselling, education, microgrants, scholarships, a food bank and training for doctors and nurses.
According to her, 27 patients have received microgrants to restart small businesses, while 10 others have returned to school through the foundation’s scholarship programmes.
She said the foundation had trained no fewer than 450 doctors and nurses in the country on cancer awareness and other aspects of cancer care.
Simon-Hart appreciated the Management of LASUTH for availing the foundation the opportunity to organise the programme at the institution.
Also speaking, Dr Niyi Adekeye, Co-founder of the BRICON Foundation, said the donation of bras and prostheses was conceived as a special intervention to commemorate the foundation’s 10 years of supporting cancer patients.
Adekeye said another set of bras and prostheses would also be donated in Ogun State in the coming week .
He said the the donation was in partnership with “SMALLS for All”, who donated the bras and Prosthesies worth N50 million for cancer survivors.
Adekeye noted that government intervention, increased awareness, education and subsidies were necessary to improve access to cancer care, which remained expensive for many patients.
The medical professional also emphasised that prevention and early detection were critical in addressing the surge in cancer cases across the country.
Speaking also, Dr Kemi Ogunyemi, the Special Adviser on Health to Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-olu described the donationas laudable initiative.
Ogunyemi noted that prevention was cheaper and remained key in the fight against cancer, urging increased preventive measures against cancer and other deadly diseases.
She added that the state government was doing everything possible to improve healthcare services in the state.
” Cancer care is not cheap in any part of the world and that is why we are so keen on prevention which is cheaper than chemotherapy and other cancer care.”
Ogunyemi urged residents of the state to take advantage of Ilera Eko scheme , noting that it had been made mandatory for all.
Prof. Adetokunbo Fabamwo, the Chief Medical Director of LASUTH, commended the foundation for rendering a selfless service to cancer survivors through their donation.
Fabamwo said plans were underway to expand the hospital’s cancer care services through the introduction of radiotherapy, with the aim of making the institution a holistic centre for cancer care.
One of the beneficiaries, Mrs Lateefat Atunbi, who underwent a mastectomy, commended the foundation for the donation, saying she had been unable to afford a breast prosthesis due to the cost.
“The price of mastectomy bra is between the range of N30,000 to N50,000 which is high for me because of all the money my family and I have spent on cancer,” she said.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Vivian Ihechu