Orange Foundation Sierra Leone, in partnership with Sierra Leone Commercial Bank (SLCB), has launched its 2026 Breast Cancer Awareness, Free Screening and Surgery Campaign, targeting more than 5,000 women across Sierra Leone with screening, treatment support and health education services.

The campaign was officially launched on Saturday, October 3, 2026, with an eight-kilometre breast cancer awareness walk from the Cotton Tree in central Freetown to Kallon Car Park at Aberdeen Beach.

The event brought together healthcare professionals, breast cancer survivors, government officials, Orange Sierra Leone employees, Sierra Leone Commercial Bank staff and members of the public to raise awareness about the importance of early detection and timely treatment.

Speaking at the launch, Orange Sierra Leone Chief Executive Officer, Madam Aïcha Touré, said the campaign is focused on saving lives by ensuring that women have greater access to early diagnosis and appropriate treatment.

She disclosed that Orange Foundation Sierra Leone has supported breast cancer awareness and treatment initiatives since 2015, with more than 2,500 women benefiting from screening services in 2025. The Foundation is now seeking to expand its reach, particularly to underserved communities where access to healthcare remains challenging.

“This year, we want to reach more than 5,000 women, especially in communities where access to healthcare is more difficult,” Madam Aïcha Touré said.

She stressed that the campaign goes beyond achieving numerical targets, noting that its broader objective is to protect the lives of mothers, sisters, daughters, wives, colleagues and friends.

According to her, many women continue to seek medical attention only after breast cancer has reached an advanced stage, making early detection and effective treatment more difficult.

“Our message to the entire Sierra Leone is simple: get screened early, and if you need care, follow through with your treatment,” she urged.

Madam Aïcha Touré described the campaign as an effort to move women “from fear to knowledge, from silence to conversation, and from late diagnosis to early detection.” She also encouraged men to support women in undergoing screening and to stand by them throughout treatment.

Representing the Government of Sierra Leone, Deputy Minister of Health I, Professor Dr. Charles Senneh, commended Orange Foundation Sierra Leone and its partners for complementing the Government’s efforts to strengthen healthcare delivery.

Professor Dr. Charles Senneh emphasised that breast cancer screening remains an important component of preventive healthcare, particularly because early presentation significantly increases the chances of receiving appropriate treatment.

He disclosed that the Government remains committed to establishing a state-of-the-art cancer treatment centre in Sierra Leone and is also working to expand mammography services beyond Freetown and Kenema to other parts of the country. Pasted markdown

“Women’s health is everybody’s business,” Professor Dr. Charles Senneh said, calling for stronger collaboration among the Government, private-sector institutions, healthcare providers and development partners.

He further stressed that breast cancer awareness should not be limited to October, noting that public education and sensitisation must continue throughout the year.

Providing a medical perspective, Dr. Isaac Olufemi Small, Surgical Oncology Specialist and Head of the Oncology Unit at Connaught Hospital, said breast cancer is treatable, particularly when detected at an early stage.

He explained that Breast Cancer Awareness Month provides an important opportunity to take screening and awareness messages directly into communities, including remote parts of Sierra Leone.

Dr. Isaac Olufemi Small said Connaught Hospital provides services ranging from diagnosis and treatment to palliative care, with patients accessing breast cancer treatment from across Sierra Leone as well as neighbouring Guinea and Liberia. Pasted markdown

He encouraged women to know their bodies and regularly examine their breasts to identify unusual changes at an early stage. Women who notice abnormalities, he said, should immediately report to a health worker for proper assessment.

Dr. Isaac Olufemi Small also reminded the public that breast cancer can affect men, although it is less common, and encouraged men to seek medical attention if they notice unusual changes in their breasts.

Speaking on behalf of the management and staff of Sierra Leone Commercial Bank, Manager Ibrahim Tito Sankoh reaffirmed the bank’s commitment to supporting initiatives aimed at improving the health and wellbeing of Sierra Leoneans.

He said the participation of the bank’s staff and senior management in the campaign demonstrated Sierra Leone Commercial Bank’s commitment to ensuring that breast cancer awareness reaches communities across the country.

Ibrahim Tito Sankoh encouraged women to undergo regular medical check-ups, stressing that early detection can save lives. He also reaffirmed the bank’s readiness to provide financial support to the initiative and commended Orange Foundation Sierra Leone and its partners for their continued efforts in combating breast cancer. Pasted markdown

For breast cancer survivors who participated in the awareness walk, the campaign also served as a message of hope and resilience, reinforcing the importance of early detection, treatment and continued public education.

The 2026 campaign brings together the Government, private sector, healthcare professionals, survivors and communities in a collective effort to increase awareness, expand access to screening and treatment, and ultimately reduce the impact of breast cancer across Sierra Leone. https://thecalabashnewspaper.com/archives/65167