As part of activities marking Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the Health Writers’ Association of Nigeria (HEWAN) has joined forces with Roche, a global healthcare company, to boost public understanding and improve media reporting on breast cancer in Nigeria.
The collaboration was launched with a workshop for health journalists, held at the Cancer Centre of the Nigerian Institute for Medical Research (NIMR) in Lagos.
The training aimed to empower journalists with accurate knowledge and storytelling tools to help Nigerians make informed decisions about breast cancer prevention, detection, and treatment.
Key sessions featured an expert overview by Dr. Samuel Otene, Consultant Radiation and Clinical Oncologist and Chairman of the Nigerian Cancer Society, Benue Chapter; a presentation on the Presidential Directive for Mandatory Health Insurance and its role in transforming healthcare by Dr. Amade-Agada, General Manager, Standards & Quality Assurance, National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA); and a detailed briefing on the Africa Breast Cancer Ambition (ABCA) — an ongoing initiative by Roche and partners to improve cancer outcomes across Africa.
Pharm. Gilbert Ogbewele, Marketing and Business Support Lead, representing Roche Nigeria’s General Manager, Dr. Ladi Hameed, praised journalists for their commitment to public health education.
“HEWAN plays a vital role in shaping public understanding of breast cancer,” he said. “By reporting accurately and compassionately, journalists help save lives through awareness and early detection.”
The initiative aims to leverage the media’s influence to drive early detection, enhance awareness, and support Nigeria’s universal health coverage goals for improved cancer survival.
Ogbewele emphasized that health journalists are critical partners in strengthening Nigeria’s healthcare system by connecting policymakers, experts, and the public.
This collaboration forms part of Roche’s broader Africa Breast Cancer Ambition (ABCA) — a mission to rewrite the story of breast cancer in Africa by promoting access to timely diagnosis, treatment, and care.