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Assistant to the Director of Genevieve PinkBall Foundation; Muna Nweke
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The PinkBall 2014 was an event to remember and the PinkBall Foundation is still in action! As the world marks today as World Cancer Day 2015, we caught up with Muna Nweke, the Assistant to the Director of Genevieve Pinball Foundation as she talks about the first 10 patients the foundation has selected, World Cancer Day, and the GPF plans for 2015.
- Shade A' Onakoya
What
is your role at the Genevieve PinkBall Foundation?
I
am the Assistant to the Director of the Genevieve PinkBall Foundation (Mrs. Betty
Irabor).
The
PinkBall was a remarkable event, and without doubt, it was a remarkable event to
remember, so what’s next for the Foundation?
We’re
doing as we promised. We’re working toward achieving our objective: “The 100
Patient Challenge” and are making significant progress. We have selected 10
patients who will benefit from the Foundation’s objective and will continue to
take on as many as funds allow. We require more funds toward achieving our goals.
How
can patients seeking treatment benefit from the PinkBall Foundation?
Patients
seeking treatment may send in an email to pinkball@genevievemagazineng.com with a short letter indicating their needs as well as
attachments of medical reports/previous treatment(s) and pictures
What
steps has the PinkBall Foundation made towards achieving the proposed “100
Patient Challenge”?
So
far, we have conducted a Screening Exercise at the Oshodi Primary Health Care
Clinic, Oshodi and have begun treatment on patients. We are still taking on
patients and continue to dedicate all our limited resources and energy toward
achieving our objective. The “100 Patient Challenge” is an on-going project.
What
are some of the challenges you have faced so far?
Our
biggest challenge, just like any other foundation is Funding. We continue to appeal
to individuals, companies and the government to come on board and partner with
us in our battle against Breast Cancer by donating to our cause. I believe that
together, we can make an even greater impact.
Another
challenge we battle with is, knowing just how much information to put out-as we
need to be accountable to the general public- but because some patients want to
remain anonymous, we are caught in between.
How
can the average Nigerian contribute to your cause? How can people help make a
difference?
Well,
people may contribute to our cause by offering their services and donations to
the Foundation to assist with patient treatment. We can all make a difference
by taking the necessary steps to living a cancer-free life by eating healthy,
exercising, getting checked regularly and creating awareness about Cancer to
people around us.
Tell
us about the 10 patients you have selected for treatment.
As
I mentioned earlier, we have selected 10 patients. Two of whom have undergone
single mastectomies (removal of one infected breast) and have both commenced
their first cycles of Chemotherapy treatment. We look forward to taking on more
patients as they come along and consequently, as many more as funding will
allow.
Taking
place under the tagline ‘Not beyond us’, World Cancer Day 2015 is today. What
positive and proactive approach to the fight against cancer is the GPF taking?
Today
is a significant day for GPF. We are calling on the Nation to unite in the
fight against Cancer. We intend to channel all our energy toward achieving “100
Patient Challenge” objective and hope to do/give back more in the following
years. Together, it is “Not Beyond Us”.
What
does the GPF have planned for 2015?
Well,
so far, we plan toward having another sporting event in October (which is the official
Breast Cancer awareness month) to raise awareness about Breast Cancer. We call
on companies who are aligned with our vision to come onboard and partner with
us. The turn-out for the GPF Run/Walk/Cycle last year was amazing. We’d like
this year to be breathtaking! Other than that, we’re focusing on Patient
Treatment.
