AN AFRICAN CAMPAIGN

This eye-opening project has educated me about the statistics and the urgent need for efficient cancer care and detection in Namibia. Before, I never really grasped the severity of breast and cervical cancer, as it was never something I learnt at school or had first hand experiences with. However more and more, this course had me thinking about the necessity to start educating teenage girls about this topic, so they may be aware of the symptoms as they grow older. By bettering their knowledge, they can make appropriate lifestyle choices or changes. I’m grateful that this opportunity has given me insight on how common these diseases are and why we need to help in raising awareness throughout the country.

Dineo Phatela, St. George's College, Windhoek - Namibia

This project highlights the gaps in Malawian healthcare when it comes to cancer care. It takes a realistic lens to the current situation in Malawi. Given the lack of updated online data, one can be misled about the resources available for cancer patients and survivors. Because we have been exposed to this, we are made aware. Although we are in highschool, we are privileged to attend a highschool that supports our endeavours to servicing the community in any way possible. Our awareness can be used to disseminate information within our school and enable other clubs, such as health awareness, to take part in awareness or action on a broader scale. We can use the creativity around our school to our advantage.

Langelihle Nkhoma, Bishop Mackenzie International School, Lilongwe - Malawi

It is so important to educate young women and men about cancer, as well coming up with new ways to improve holistic care. The more educated people are about breast cancer in Namibia, the faster the country can develop during treatment and care. It also means that less people will have to suffer for long periods of time without knowing what is wrong with them. It educates girls on health checks and preventative methods for late detection. I feel that it is important, as a high school girl, to be educated on situations such as these. It is the job of the educated to educate the uneducated in order to spread awareness and knowledge.

Tumi Phatela (Dineo's twin sister), St. George's College, Windhoek - Namibia

Societies around the world have always depended on women as a backbone. Though this is true, women’s health, for centuries, has been a general taboo conversation in many cultures. This has led to the spread of misinformation about women’s health globally. In Ghana, for example, breast cancer has become a public health challenge. Breast cancer has become one of the most common cancer-related death among Ghanaian women.

Dede Ayanou-Outtara, Lincoln Community School, Accra - Ghana