Foundation collaborates with NYSC, other stakeholders on anti-cervical cancer, anti-breast workshop in Abuja

Ahead of a grand national launch in early 2022, the Onyebuchi Chris Ifediora, OCI Foundation, has disclosed plans to organise a one-day consultation and planning meeting/seminar for the National Youths Service Corps, NYSC and relevant stakeholders on anti-breast and anti-cervical cancer programmes, which it seeks to be introduced into the regular activities of the NYSCs orientation activities across the country.

Açcording to a statement issued and jointly signed by the President of OCI Foundation, Alhaji Abdullahi Aliyu Rufai and the Chairman of the Local Organising Committee, LOC, Prof. Chris Ifediora, “the seminar is part of the strategic effort to orientate all partners in the Arm Our Youths (ArOY) Health Campaign project.”

It added that the ArOY campaign also aims to include preventive teachings into the academic curriculum of all senior secondary schools in all of Nigeria’s 36 states and the FCT by 2025.

It informed that the NYSC delegates from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT are being expected at the event, which will hold on Tuesday, October 19, 2021, at the Chelsea Hotel, Abuja.

“The internationally-endorsed ArOY Health Campaign is a novel, Harvard-endorsed, WHO-supported and evidence-based health promotion initiative of the OCI Foundation, which seeks to introduce anti-breast and anti-cervical cancer programs into the regular activities of the NYSCs orientation activities across Nigeria,” it stated

The statement added that the seminar, which would have opening and technical sessions, is being sponsored by the OCI Foundation, an international (Nigerian-Australian) NGO committed to the promotion of health, education and social welfare for Nigerians.

It also informed that the NYSC and the Nigerian Cancer Society, NCS) are official partners to the event, which has the support of the Sweet Home Africa Humanitarian Foundation, SHAHF.

The Director General of the NYSC, Brig. Gen. Shuaibu Ibrahim, is expected as the chief host of the event with other guests drawn from the Nigerian Presidency, the Honourable Ministers of Women Affairs, Health and Education, the House Committee Chairman on Healthcare Services, as well as the members of the “First Ladies Against Cancer, FLAC”, which is a group of Eight Nigerian first ladies united in the fight against cancers.

Also expected are the DG of the National Orientation Agency, NOA, representatives of the WHO, the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) and the FCT Primary Health Care Board (FCT-PHCB).

Serving corps members and officers of the NYSC from all the 36 states and the FCT, along with officers from the NYSCs National Headquarters in Abuja, will also be in attendance as well as the leaders of the NCS, OCI Foundation, partner NGOs, groups and individuals.