By Jennifer Mpango
After reading a story on Maravi Express about the Breast Cancer Awareness Carnival being organised by Breast Care Ltd on October 27, journalist Dr. Ahmed Mohiuddin Siddiqui based in the Middle East, has praised the way the story was handled.
“I regularly follow The Maravi Express [and] I particularly like the variety of coverage and pages like Health,” said Mohiuddin Siddiqui, who is a felicitated senior journalist, political analyst and columnist based in Oman.
“The report on breast cancer awareness carnival by Duncan Mlanjira was awesome. I am sending a report on breast cancer awareness lecture from Muscat.
Even men in Oman are involved in the awareness
“The information may benefit the breast cancer patients and our readers of Maravi Express.
“In Malawi, it is significant to note that there were 1,216 new cases of breast cancer in 2018. Women accounted for 10.2 % and females and males accounted for 6.2 % of all types of cancer cases.
“More breast cancer awareness programmes will go a long way in fighting the dreaded disease,” he said.
Entitled ‘Every 10 Minutes – A Woman Dies of Breast Cancer!’, Mohiuddin Siddiqui’s report done in Muscat, the Capital of Oman on October 21, 2019, says women across the world are tackling the dreaded breast cancer.
Quoting Dr. Rajyashree Narayan Kutty, a member of the Oman Cancer Association (OCA), the report says every 10 minutes, a woman dies of breast cancer in the world.
Dr. Narayan Kutty delivering a special lecture — ‘Hakuna Matata; A Cancer Free Philosphy’, which was organized on the Pink Day by the Higher Institute of Health Specialties, Ministry of Health (MoH), Sultanate of Oman.
Hakuna Matata is a phrase from the Swahili language which means no worries or no troubles.
The Middle East public strongly support the
campaign
“Dr. Narayan Kutty pointed out that every 1.7 minutes, a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer,” writes Dr. Mohiuddin Siddiqui.
“The doctor observed that 85 percent of the women who get breast cancer do not have a family history.
“A private practicing doctor, Rajyashree has been spreading awareness about breast cancer for the past 15years. She enumerated the risk factors for breast cancer as age, menstrual history, obstetric history, family history, junk food and tinned drinks.
Much publicized Walkathons
“She mentioned that there is no age for breast cancer. Women from the age of 18 are now getting diagnosed for breast cancer.
“She termed the disease as a silent invader. She attributed this to sedentary life style and diet.
“Commending the MoH, Oman, for taking extra steps to bring awareness about breast cancer to the general public, Dr. Rajyashree suggested self-breast examination five days after menses every month.
“She advised about going in for annual ultrasound from 35 years of age and mammogram from the age of 40. She asked the breast cancer patients to be strong to fight the disease and not to panic.
“She asserted that if detected early, breast cancer is curable.”
Mohiuddin Siddiqui report also says male breast cancer incidence is increasing in the Arabian Gulf countries.
“Every year, 5 to 7 new cases are detected in Oman, according to Dr. Rajyashree. Talking about prostate cancer among men, she informed that the prostate size increases in men leading to difficulty in passing urine.
“She asked the men to have the PSA blood test every year to rule out cancer. She cautioned young mothers against using pampers for the babies all the time as this damages the testicles and lowers the sperm count when they grow up.
Duke (left) founder of Breast Care
in Malawi
“She pleaded with the young mothers to avoid bottle feeding the babies and go for breast feeding.
“She advised the public to avoid coffee and alcohol. She specified apples, berries, broccoli, pomegranate as super foods which fight cancer.
“She asked the patients to use ginger, garlic, cinnamon and turmeric in their diet.”
The report went on to say, Dr. Manal Abdul Majeed, Dean of Higher Institute of Health Specialties who is Oman’s popular face in community activities and OCA Board member, disclosed about the World Cancer Congress 2020.
“The 2020 World Cancer Congress will be hosted by the Oman Cancer Association, in collaboration with the National Oncology Centre Royal Hospital Muscat in the Sultanate of Oman.
“She asked the community to participate in the walkathon to be held on 29th October 2019 by the OCA.