Reported by Simon Daniel Yusuph l Journalist at Weng Global
The President of the Nigerian Army Officers’ Wives Association (NAOWA), Dr Safiyyah Hassan Shaibu, has urged military families to prioritise breast cancer awareness, early detection and timely medical attention, stressing the importance of recognising warning signs before the disease advances.
Shaibu made the call during NAOWA’s 2026 Breast Cancer and Mental Health Awareness Programme in Abuja on Saturday, October 10, as part of activities marking Breast Cancer Awareness Month and World Mental Health Day.
She also encouraged military families to seek mental health support without fear of discrimination or stigma, emphasising that physical health and emotional well-being deserve equal attention.
The programme brought attention to two health concerns that can affect individuals and families significantly: cancer, which may require prolonged medical care, and mental health challenges, which can remain untreated when people are afraid to seek help.
Shaibu urged women not to allow fear, embarrassment or complacency to prevent them from seeking medical advice when they notice unusual changes in their bodies.
Her message highlighted the importance of early medical assessment, family support and access to reliable health information, particularly in communities where demanding work schedules, financial pressures and other responsibilities can make healthcare difficult to prioritise.
NAOWA President Highlights the Importance of Early Detection
During the awareness programme, Shaibu emphasised that women should take changes in their bodies seriously rather than wait for symptoms to become painful or severe before seeking medical attention.
According to reports of the event, she shared the experience of a woman who almost ignored a minor bodily change because it caused little discomfort.
The woman eventually sought medical attention after a friend encouraged her to take the change seriously. The decision reportedly led to an early diagnosis and timely treatment, supported by family members and friends.
The account illustrated how seemingly minor changes can prompt important health decisions and why encouragement from people close to someone experiencing symptoms can make a difference.
It also reinforced the need to avoid assuming that a health problem is insignificant simply because it does not cause severe pain.
However, not every bodily change indicates cancer, and symptoms alone cannot establish a diagnosis. Medical professionals are responsible for evaluating symptoms and determining whether further investigations are necessary.
Shaibu’s appeal focused on encouraging women to seek appropriate medical assessment rather than allowing uncertainty or fear to delay care.
For military families, such awareness can help promote a culture in which health concerns are discussed openly and medical attention is sought when needed.
The association’s campaign also placed responsibility on family members to encourage one another to attend medical appointments, discuss health concerns and support those undergoing investigations or treatment.
Understanding Breast Cancer and Its Warning Signs
Breast cancer develops when abnormal cells in breast tissue grow uncontrollably and form a tumour. It can affect women of different ages, although the risk generally increases with age. Men can also develop breast cancer, although it is less common.
Early detection is important because identifying the disease before it advances can improve treatment options and outcomes.
According to the World Health Organization, breast cancer was the most common cancer among women globally in 2022, with approximately 2.3 million women diagnosed and about 670,000 deaths recorded worldwide that year.
These figures illustrate the scale of the disease and the importance of improving awareness, diagnosis and access to treatment.
Possible warning signs include a new lump or thickening in the breast, changes in breast size or shape, changes to the skin, nipple changes or unusual discharge.
Some breast cancers may not cause pain in their early stages. Consequently, the absence of pain should not be treated as proof that a change is harmless.
At the same time, most breast changes are not necessarily cancerous. Benign conditions can also cause lumps, tenderness and other symptoms.
The appropriate response to a new or unusual change is to seek medical evaluation rather than attempt to determine the cause without professional assistance.
Health professionals may recommend clinical examinations, diagnostic imaging or a biopsy, depending on the individual’s symptoms and circumstances.
A biopsy involves examining a tissue sample to determine whether cancer cells are present.
The type of investigation required depends on clinical findings, age, personal risk factors and available medical guidance.
Shaibu’s message about early detection is therefore particularly relevant to women who may postpone medical visits because they feel healthy, fear a possible diagnosis or assume that a painless symptom does not require attention.
Raising awareness can help people recognise when to seek advice, although awareness campaigns must also be accompanied by accessible diagnostic and treatment services.
Why Regular Medical Checks Matter
Breast cancer awareness involves more than encouraging women to examine their breasts. It also requires access to appropriate medical advice, timely diagnosis and effective treatment.
Women should understand the normal appearance and feel of their breasts and seek medical attention if they notice a new or persistent change.
Breast self-awareness can help individuals recognise unusual changes, but self-examination alone cannot rule out cancer.
Similarly, a normal self-examination does not guarantee that breast cancer is absent.
Screening is intended to identify possible disease in people who do not have symptoms. Depending on national guidelines, age and individual risk, screening may involve mammography, an X-ray examination of the breast.
Women should consult qualified healthcare professionals about the screening approach and schedule appropriate to their circumstances.
Those who notice symptoms should seek medical assessment rather than wait for their next routine screening appointment.
These distinctions are important because public awareness campaigns can sometimes create the impression that one examination method is sufficient for everyone.
In reality, effective breast cancer control involves several stages, including awareness, early diagnosis, access to diagnostic services, treatment and follow-up care.
For Nigeria, strengthening these stages remains important in efforts to reduce preventable delays and improve outcomes for people affected by cancer.
The World Health Organization has identified early diagnosis and timely access to treatment as essential components of effective breast cancer control.
The challenge is not simply persuading people to seek medical attention. Healthcare systems must also be able to provide the investigations, specialist care and treatment that patients require.
Mental Health Also Deserves Attention
Alongside breast cancer awareness, Shaibu called on military families to seek mental health support without shame or stigma.
Her message recognised that emotional well-being is an important part of overall health and that people experiencing psychological difficulties should not feel compelled to manage them without assistance.
Mental health challenges can affect people across different occupations, ages and social backgrounds. They may involve persistent anxiety, depression, emotional distress or difficulties coping with demanding circumstances.
For military households, frequent relocations, periods of separation, concerns about loved ones deployed on operations and the responsibilities of maintaining family life can create additional pressures for some individuals.
These circumstances do not mean every military family will experience mental health difficulties. However, they underline the importance of making appropriate support available to people who need it.
Fear of judgement can discourage individuals from speaking openly about emotional distress or seeking professional assistance.
Such stigma may leave people struggling in silence, potentially affecting their relationships, daily responsibilities and quality of life.
Shaibu’s appeal encouraged families to treat mental health concerns with the same seriousness and compassion they would extend to physical illnesses.
Mental health support can include consultations with qualified professionals, counselling, appropriate clinical treatment and supportive relationships with trusted family members or friends.
The type of support required depends on the individual’s needs and the nature of the difficulty being experienced.
Family support can be valuable, but it should not replace professional care when that care is necessary.
By addressing breast cancer and mental health at the same programme, NAOWA highlighted the need for a broader understanding of family health that includes physical, psychological and social well-being.
The Role of Military Families in Promoting Health Awareness
Military families occupy an important place in the welfare structure surrounding serving personnel.
Spouses, parents and other relatives often provide practical and emotional support while personnel fulfil their professional responsibilities.
However, the health needs of family members also require attention in their own right.
Health awareness initiatives can help families recognise symptoms, understand when medical advice is necessary and support relatives who need treatment.
They can also create opportunities for participants to ask questions, receive reliable information and learn about available services.
For organisations such as NAOWA, awareness programmes provide a platform to address health concerns within military communities and encourage preventive healthcare practices.
The effectiveness of such initiatives, however, depends on whether participants can translate information into action.
Awareness must be supported by practical access to medical facilities, qualified personnel, diagnostic investigations and appropriate treatment.
Women who recognise a possible warning sign but cannot afford an examination or reach a suitable facility may still experience delays in diagnosis.
For this reason, public education and healthcare access need to work together.
Military welfare organisations can contribute by helping families identify available medical services, promoting timely referrals and encouraging members to seek professional advice.
They can also help reduce stigma by creating environments where people feel comfortable discussing health concerns.
The broader objective is to make preventive care and timely medical intervention routine rather than activities people pursue only when symptoms become difficult to ignore.
Breast Cancer Care in Nigeria
Breast cancer remains an important public health concern in Nigeria, where the availability and affordability of diagnostic and treatment services can influence patients’ experiences.
Access to care may vary depending on location, household income, healthcare infrastructure and the availability of specialists.
For some patients, the process of obtaining a diagnosis involves multiple appointments and investigations. The costs associated with these services can create additional pressure on households already managing other financial responsibilities.
Treatment may involve surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, hormone therapy or other approaches, depending on the type and stage of cancer and the patient’s medical circumstances.
Not every patient requires the same treatment, and decisions should be made by qualified healthcare professionals.
Delays in seeking medical attention can complicate the diagnostic process and may allow some cancers to progress before treatment begins.
However, the responsibility for improving outcomes does not rest on individuals alone. Healthcare systems also need sufficient diagnostic capacity, trained professionals, reliable referral arrangements and affordable treatment options.
Public awareness can encourage earlier presentation, but patients must be able to obtain appropriate care after seeking help.
The emphasis on early detection in NAOWA’s campaign therefore connects individual health decisions with wider questions about healthcare delivery.
For military families, the availability of reliable health information and accessible medical services can help reduce uncertainty when a family member develops symptoms or receives a diagnosis.
The same principles apply to communities beyond the military: people need accurate information, respectful healthcare and timely access to appropriate investigations and treatment.
Family Support Can Help Patients Seek Care
The experience shared during the NAOWA programme also highlighted the potential influence of personal relationships on health decisions.
In the account, a friend encouraged a woman to seek medical attention after noticing that she was considering ignoring a bodily change.
That encouragement reportedly contributed to an early diagnosis and timely treatment.
Although a single account cannot establish how all patients respond to support, it demonstrates how conversations with trusted people may encourage someone to take a health concern seriously.
Family members and friends can help by listening without judgement, encouraging medical consultations and assisting with practical needs where possible.
They may also support patients during appointments and treatment, depending on the patient’s preferences and circumstances.
For people facing a possible cancer diagnosis, emotional support can help them navigate uncertainty and the demands of medical care.
It is equally important to respect patients’ privacy and avoid pressuring them to disclose personal health information.
Awareness campaigns should create supportive environments rather than generate fear or shame.
The aim is to encourage informed decisions and help people access care when they need it.
What Happens Next?
The October awareness programme forms part of NAOWA’s efforts to promote health consciousness and support the well-being of military families.
The available reports do not establish specific follow-up targets, screening numbers or new treatment initiatives arising from the event.
Nevertheless, the campaign’s message points to practical steps that individuals and organisations can take.
Women can seek medical advice when they notice unusual breast changes and consult healthcare professionals about appropriate screening based on their age and risk factors.
Families can encourage relatives to obtain medical attention when necessary and provide support without dismissing symptoms or creating unnecessary fear.
Military welfare organisations can reinforce awareness through health education, information on available services and initiatives that encourage people to seek help early.
Mental health awareness can also be strengthened by making appropriate support easier to access and challenging the stigma associated with psychological difficulties.
For healthcare providers and policymakers, the wider challenge is to ensure that awareness is matched by accessible diagnostic services and effective treatment.
NAOWA’s message is relevant beyond military communities because early diagnosis, family support and access to reliable healthcare are important to the wider Nigerian population.
Shaibu’s appeal ultimately emphasises that people should not allow fear, stigma or complacency to prevent them from seeking appropriate medical attention.
Breast cancer awareness is most effective when it leads to informed action, while mental health advocacy becomes meaningful when people can seek support without discrimination.
The programme has brought both concerns into focus, reinforcing the importance of treating physical and emotional well-being as essential parts of a healthy family and community.
Weng Global – stories beyond borders
Sources
- World Health Organization — Breast Cancer Fact Sheet.
- News Agency of Nigeria — Report on NAOWA’s 2026 Breast Cancer and Mental Health Awareness Programme, October 10, 2026.
- Gazette Nigeria — Report on NAOWA’s call for early breast cancer screening and mental health support, October 10, 2026.
- Nigerian Army Officers’ Wives Association — Information on the association’s family welfare and health awareness activities.
