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…Distributes Free Drugs, Sanitary Pads, Clothes, Others In Rivers Community
PORT HARCOURT – A women’s interventionist group, African Women Mentoring and Inspiring Initiative (AWMII), has screened over 3,000 Rivers women for cervical cancer, high blood pressure, malaria, and other illnesses free of charge.
AWMII, in partnership with Kirti’s Kare Foundation, also distributed sanitary pads, clothes, malaria drugs, shoes, baby bath accessories to pregnant women, and snacks for free.
The outreach, which was held at the Amadi-Ama community health center in Port Harcourt over the weekend, equally featured health enlightenment talks from seasoned medical doctors and pharmacists.
Speaking at the end of the programme, Executive Director of African Women Mentoring and Inspiring Initiative (AWMII), Dr. Nissi Ikenna-Amadi, said the recent hike in cases of female deaths resulting from cervical cancer informed the medical intervention.
Dr. Ikenna-Amadi, who is also the founder of AWMII, added that her organization is also bridging the education gap in women, giving them opportunities to reach their full potential in society.
She stated, “AWMII was birthed about six years ago, and we have noticed that the rate of women dying of cervical cancer is increasing, even though cervical cancer is treatable if detected early.
“So we felt that beyond mentoring and inspiring women, we would look into their health, so now our goal is health for all, education for all, especially women, and also helping women get a place at the table, which is gender based equality.
“We are not doing this alone, so we partner with a lot of people, such as the Association of Lady Pharmacists, the Medical Women’s Association, and Union Bank, to ensure that we attain this goal.
“We have attended to many women today. We have given out free sanitary pads, free school bags, free shoes, free clothes, we also tested and gave out cervical cancer treatment, as well as tests and drugs for malaria.”
On her part, the founder and Executive Director of Kirtis Kare Foundation (KKF), Ambassador Dr. Kirti Sudhanshu, charged Beneficiaries, especially women, to be positive change agents in society, stressing that any service to humanity is service to God.
“We established our foundation in Nigeria in July 2019 and in India in August 2020, and we work for education for empowerment, but health is our flagship project, health is priority, health is life.
“This world is beautiful, be the beacon of hope, be the change agent for society, God provides you lots of things, please help others, not to get something, know that you are doing God’s work, if you help somebody, you are helping God, that is why we are always practicing humanity, it is our service to God.
“So my message is helping others selflessly, even if it is small, one Kobo, it means something for somebody.”
Dr. Sudhanshu, however, advised young women to prioritize their health and well-being by taking full advantage of the medical care provided by AWMII.
“One good thing about the digital era is everybody knows everything, and I really appreciate the media for promoting our seminars, sensitizing the youths in schools and the public about ways to prevent cervical cancer.
“So today, the youths are well aware, they know what to do, what they don’t have is access to preventive care, and that is the essence of this health outreach here in Amadi-Ama primary health center, this is easy access for anybody.”
In gratitude to the African Women Mentoring and Inspiring Initiative (AWMII) for the outreach, one of the beneficiaries, Mercy Gift, an Indigene of the Amadi-Ama community, said she got free cervical cancer screening and clothing for her young son, praying God to bless the group for their efforts.
She said, “I’m really impressed with what I witnessed today, and I want to say a big thank you to this organization for remembering us and coming to our rescue.
“A lot of us have sickness in our bodies, but we will not know, but today I ran a test and the scan proved that I don’t have cancer.
They also gave me clothes for my son, and they also gave me sanitary pads, which is very good.
“I am so grateful, and I want to say a big thank you to this organization, may the good lord bless, protect, and prosper them.”
Highpoint of the event was the symbolic partnership between the African Women Mentoring and Inspiring Initiative (AWMII) and Kirtis Kare Foundation (KKF).
