In observance of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Roche Nigeria has partnered with the Health Writers Association of Nigeria (HEWAN) to strengthen public education and media reporting on breast cancer.
The collaboration featured a two-day strategic capacity-building workshop for health journalists, held at the Cancer Centre of the Nigerian Institute for Medical Research (NIMR), Lagos.
The workshop, themed “Elevating Science and Health Journalism,” aimed to equip journalists with the skills and tools needed to accurately inform Nigerians about breast cancer and the available care initiatives. It also commemorated the 2025 Breast Cancer Awareness Month, observed globally every October to raise awareness and support research into the disease’s causes, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.
Speaking at the event, Mr. Gilbert Ogbewele, Marketing and Business Support Lead at Roche Nigeria, who represented the General Manager, Mr. Ladi Hameed, underscored the importance of the partnership with HEWAN.
“Roche is proud to partner with HEWAN, a critical stakeholder in preserving public interest,” Ogbewele said. “Health writers play an invaluable role in educating the Nigerian public about the scourge of breast cancer. You offer hope by arming citizens with information about available policies and care initiatives that are functional in Nigeria today.”
He added that the initiative aligns with Roche’s Africa Breast Cancer Ambition (ABCA) — a mission dedicated to rewriting the story of breast cancer in Nigeria.
Ogbewele emphasized that journalists are essential partners in supporting the government’s drive toward universal health coverage and improving early detection and cancer care outcomes.
In her welcome address, HEWAN President, Mrs. Vivian Ihechu, said the workshop had a dual purpose: to sharpen the skills of Nigerian health journalists and to commemorate Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
“Journalism is not just about reporting facts; it’s about saving lives,” Ihechu said. “In a country facing complex public health challenges, your ability to translate scientific data into actionable public information is invaluable.”
She commended Roche and NIMR for supporting the capacity-building initiative designed to help journalists report on disease outbreaks, policy changes, and medical innovations with greater accuracy and impact.
Commenting on the significance of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Ihechu stressed that the campaign serves as a crucial reminder that breast cancer remains a serious threat to women’s health.
“As journalists, we must go beyond statistics,” she said. “We must tell stories of early detection, advocate for equitable access to screening and treatment, and dispel myths that hinder timely intervention.”
Key sessions on the first day of the workshop included an expert overview of breast cancer by Dr. Samuel Otene, Consultant Radiation and Clinical Oncologist and State Chairman of the Nigerian Cancer Society, Benue Chapter. Participants also received a detailed briefing on the Africa Breast Cancer Ambition (ABCA) — an ongoing mission by Roche and its partners to improve breast cancer care outcomes in Africa.
