The NBA Women Forum (NBAWF), Edo State Chapter, in collaboration with St. Augustine Medical Center, Bisam Care Foundation and the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ Edo State Chapter, on Saturday, October 17, 2026, held a health walk in Benin City to raise awareness on cancer prevention, early detection and management.
The walk, themed “WALK. CHECK. LIVE. PINK STEPS, STRONG WOMEN”, flagged off at 7:00 a.m. from the High Court/NBA House, moved through major streets with a brief stopover at the NUJ Press Centre, and climaxed at King’s Square (Ring Road).
Leading the rally were Mrs. Bridget Imuetinyanosa Iguodala, Edo State Lead of NBAWF; Dr. Michael Osahumen Orhue, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist; and Comrade Habiba Aniekan Sam, Chairperson of NAWOJ, Edo State Chapter.
In her address, Mrs. Iguodala said cancer continues to ravage both women and men, with high prevalence of breast and cervical cancers in women and prostate and colorectal cancers in men.
She explained that the walk, under the motto “Lawyers Who Walk The Talk Against Cancer”, was to reassure the public that early detection makes cancer highly manageable and curable.
She stressed that a major goal is to break the culture of fear and eliminate stigmatisation that prevents people from seeking timely medical care, adding that the campaign also includes a virtual Zoom seminar where experts will lecture on prevention, self-examination and screening.
Comrade Habiba Sam said NAWOJ remains committed to women’s well-being, noting that good health is the greatest gift, and emphasized that a cancer diagnosis is not a death sentence when detected early.
She advised patients and survivors to adhere strictly to medications and regular check-ups, citing real-life examples of those who recovered fully through consistent care.
In his remarks, Dr. Alare Enoma Edosa noted that awareness can never be over-emphasised, listing family history, increasing age and being female as risk factors, and encouraging yearly mammograms for high-risk women and routine tests for prostate cancer in men.
Adding legislative support, Hon. Samson Osagie, Esq., lauded the initiative, particularly the Bisam Care Foundation for assisting patients at UBTH and promoting routine screenings such as clinical breast exams, ultrasounds, mammograms, Pap smears and biopsies.
The highpoint was at Ring Road when a middle-aged woman, Mrs. Tawa Akin, who confided she had been experiencing pain in her left breast, was immediately linked by the NAWOJ Chairperson to the medical team from St. Augustine Medical Center for attention.
Some of the inscriptions on the placards carried during the rally read:,· Early Detection Saves Lives
Get Checked, Stay Alive
· Fight Cancer With Courage
· Cancer Is Curable, If Caught Early
· Screen Today, Smile Tomorrow
· Don’t Wait, Screen Today
· Your Life Matters, Get Screened
· Together We Fight, Together We Win
· Walk. Check. Live
· Show Care, Love Not Anger To Cancer Patients
· We Are United Against Cancer
· Lawyers, Doctors, Journalists Against Cancer – Edo Walks
· No Stigmatisation: Show Love
· You Can Beat Cancer If You Check Always
· Pink Steps, Strong Women
· Our Steps Are Louder Than Cancer
Women Lawyers, Journalists, Doctors Lead Cancer Awareness Walk in Benin
