The Mediatrix Development Foundation, founded by former First Lady of Cross River State, Dr. Linda Ayade, has concluded a three-day Cancer Awareness and Screening Programme at the Obudu German Hospital.
Held from October 22nd to 24th, 2026, in commemoration of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the outreach provided women in Obudu and surrounding communities with health education, breast cancer screening and other preventive services. Men also benefited from prostate checks, counselling and free treatment as volunteer medical personnel joined the Foundation for the exercise.
The programme kicked off with an awareness road walk and stakeholder engagement, culminating in a debate on breast cancer awareness by students of three secondary schools at the Girls’ Secondary School, Obudu — a strong message that cancer education must begin early.
President of the Foundation, Dr. Ayade, urged women to embrace healthy lifestyles and seek early medical attention. She also called on government and policymakers to increase investment in cancer care, noting that the high cost of treatment remains a heavy burden for ordinary citizens.
The outreach was co-sponsored by First Ladies Against Cancer (FLAC), an alliance of serving and former governors’ wives committed to advocacy and improved access to cancer screening and treatment.
Oncology Nurse at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH), Cecilia Azu, who participated in the outreach, said many patients from northern Cross River present at the hospital only when the disease is already at an advanced stage, making treatment difficult.
Speaking to newsmen, Executive Director of the Foundation, Mr. Olamide Onifade, said early detection remains one of the most effective ways to improve treatment outcomes and urged women not to allow fear, stigma or ignorance to delay seeking care.
The Foundation called on community leaders, women’s groups, faith-based organisations, schools, health workers and development partners to continue spreading accurate information on cancer prevention and early detection.
