On the last day of the 2024 edition of the awareness and screening campaign against female cancers, the feminist movement ”L’Appel des mille et une” led by Dr Nicole Assélé went, Thursday, October 31, to the meeting adolescents, students of the Léon M’ba School Complex, in order to educate them mainly on prevention measures for cervical and breast cancers. The discussions, which took place in the gymnasium of the Lycée national Léon Mba, focused on the theme: “Need for healthy sexual hygiene for the prevention of female cancers”.
“In previous years, we went to cancer patients to bring them food and a little joy. This year, we said to ourselves that we had to go and meet the youngest because it is the future of our country. It is up to this youth to have hygiene and possibly a healthy sexual life. It is at the age of adolescence that we discover and we had to tell these children that we must not be in a hurry, because the disease is there, cancers in particular, they are lying in wait for us”.
Thus set the scene, Dr Nicole Assélé, president of the feminist movement ”The Call of a Thousand and One” justifying, if necessary, the relevance of this framework of exchanges with “okay”students of the Léon Mba School Complex, in a gymnasium full as an egg, during these final moments of the 2014 edition ”Pink October”.
In charge, Dr Lyne Silat Nzoumba, medical oncologist, who focused her message on the risk factors linked to female cancers, mainly those of the cervix and breast, which represent more than 50% of gynecological cancers in Africa. sub-Saharan Africa and in the world, it is indicated.
According to recent available statistics, Gabon records 400 deaths per year due to female cancers, 88% of which represent cervical and breast cancers.
This is therefore a worrying public health problem which calls for mobilization of the national community, such as that led by the feminist movement. ”The Call of a Thousand One” among students at the Lycée national Léon Mba, with a view to increasing awareness of systematic screening and increased vigilance.
“The risk factors remain preliminary at the level of breast cancer, caused in particular by the early age of menstruation, the late age of the first pregnancy, etc., and the signs are the nodule in the breast, the skin of orange, ulceration of the nipple and sometimes unexplained pain. The aim of this meeting is to encourage everyone to be screened early.”emphatically recommended Dr. Lyne Silat Nzoumba, addressing the adolescents of the Léon M’ba school complex.
Message received five out of five by the learners, especially as the student Grace Nkoma says she retained that “cervical cancer is a disease that should not be neglected and that we must not only act now, but stay in the long term. We must therefore take radical and strict measures to avoid having repercussions later”she agreed.
“This campaign was very enriching because it taught us that we must practice abstinence and chastity, because when a girl or boy has several partners, it can cause cancer of the cervix or breast. penis, or other pathologies which can affect one’s sexual health »for his part declared student Morgan Godel Junior Yendiyika.
The feminist movement ”The Call of a Thousand and One” sets itself, among other objectives, to encourage women to mobilize to defend their rights, to encourage them to cultivate self-confidence, to access education and learning, to take charge of their lives and future and to develop creativity and their potential, we learned.
Elliott Ana Wonder and Frida Dodo
2024-10-31 23:37:00
#Students #awareness #target #Pink #October #loop
**Interview with Dr. Nicole Assélé, President of the feminist movement “The Call of a Thousand and One”**
**Editor:** Thank you for joining us, Dr. Assélé. Can you explain the motivation behind this year’s campaign and why you chose to focus on adolescents at the Léon M’ba School Complex?
**Dr. Assélé:** Thank you for having me. In previous years, our focus has been on providing support for cancer patients, but this year we realized that engaging with the youth is paramount. Adolescents are the future of our country, and it’s essential they understand the importance of healthy sexual hygiene and cancer prevention. We want to empower them to take charge of their health at a young age, before they find themselves facing these diseases.
**Editor:** During the discussions, the theme was centered on the need for healthy sexual hygiene for preventing female cancers. How did the students respond to this message?
**Dr. Assélé:** The response was overwhelmingly positive. Many students, like Grace Nkoma, expressed their understanding of the importance of being proactive about cervical cancer. They grasped that it’s not just about immediate action but also long-term vigilance. It’s encouraging to see young people take this seriously and be willing to advocate for their health and the health of their peers.
**Editor:** The statistics on female cancers in Gabon are alarming, with 400 deaths reported annually, predominantly from cervical and breast cancers. What actions do you believe are necessary to address this public health issue effectively?
**Dr. Assélé:** We need comprehensive community mobilization, increased awareness of the risks, and systematic screening programs. It’s critical that we continue our outreach initiatives, like this one at Léon M’ba, to educate the youth. Furthermore, engaging parents and guardians in the conversation about sexual health and hygiene will create a supportive environment for these young individuals as they navigate their health choices.
**Editor:** Dr. Lyne Silat Nzoumba also shared insights during the campaign. What role do you think medical professionals play in this ongoing awareness effort?
**Dr. Assélé:** Medical professionals are pivotal. They provide the scientific basis for what we advocate. Dr. Nzoumba’s emphasis on the risk factors for breast cancer and the call for early screening is vital. When medical experts collaborate with movements like ours, it creates a solid foundation for educating communities effectively.
**Editor:** what is your vision for the future of such campaigns in Gabon?
**Dr. Assélé:** My vision is for continued engagement with youth and a shift in societal attitudes towards women’s health issues in general. We want to see ongoing initiatives that not only inform but empower young women and men about their sexual health. Healthy societies begin with educated and informed citizens, and that is our ultimate goal.
**Editor:** Thank you, Dr. Assélé, for your insights and commitment to such a crucial cause.
**Dr. Assélé:** Thank you for the opportunity to share our mission and to raise awareness on this important topic.
