| Founded | Started as a NYSC community development project in 2013 by Runcie C. W. Chidebe in Abuja |
|---|---|
| Type | Non-profit NGO |
| Headquarters | Abuja, Nigeria |
| Location | |
| Services | Cancer Awareness, Free Cancer Screenings, Patient Navigation, Palliative Care and Advocacy. |
| Fields | Health care. |
| Runcie C.W Chidebe | |
| Website | projectpinkblue |
Project Pink Blue, registered as Health & Psychological Trust Centre is a cancer nonprofit engaged in raising cancer awareness, patient navigation, advocacy and free breast and cervical cancer screening for women living in poverty. The organization launched Nigeria's first patient navigation in 2015 and a toll- free telephone centre 08000CANCER in 2016 [1] Project PINK BLUE won the SPARC Metastatic Breast Cancer challenge grant by Union for International Cancer Control and Pfizer Oncology in Lisbon, Portugal. [2] [3]
Project Pink Blue started in 2013 as a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) community development project, [4] [5] known as Project Pink [6] through which Runcie C. W. Chidebe, carried out a breast and cervical cancer awareness and screening [7] for 165 women in Kabusa community, a suburb of Abuja. In 2014, the organization included prostate cancer on her mandate and became known as Project Pink Blue, and was incorporated with Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) of Nigeria.
The organization has frequently used public figures [8] and celebrities like Korede Bello, [9] Chidinma Ekile, [10] Oge Okoye, Annie Idibia, [11] and others to bring the message about early dictation and treatment to limelight.
The organization has regularly organized World Cancer Day, [12] International Breast Awareness Day popularly known as Pink October, [13] Community outreaches, Global Day of Citizens Action, [14] Cancer Research. On 29 & 30 September, Project Pink Blue hosted Wiki Loves Women event in Abuja.
In January 2015, Project Pink Blue sets up the first Nigerian Patients Navigation programme known as Breast Cancer Navigation and Palliative Programme [15] (BCNPP).
Project Pink Blue organizes world cancer day every February for the past four years. [16] The event featured road walk, free cancer screening and symposium with dignitaries such as a veteran Nigerian broadcaster Sadiq Daba. [17]
On 2 December 2016, the organization launched the first Nigerian cancer toll-free line known as 08000CANCER or 08000226237. [18]
Project PINK BLUE chose the occasion of World Cancer Day to launch the Abuja Breast Cancer Support Group - the city's first patient support group. The milestone achievement was commemorated with a medal-giving ceremony for breast cancer survivors attended by leaders from the cancer control community as well as His Royal Majesty Dr. Kabiru Musa, the Emir of Azara.[ citation needed ]
Project PINK BLUE launched the Upgrade Oncology programme during the 2018 World Cancer Day activities. The Upgrade Oncology is a capacity development program focused on improving cancer treatment and care through the provision of medical oncology training, update/top-up trainings, development of medical oncology curriculum, review and domestication of the treatment guidelines for better cancer care in Nigeria.
Men on Blue is a health intervention focused on breaching the gap of awareness, education and screening for prostate cancer in Nigeria. [19]
Project PINK BLUE also used the Day to call on the Federal government to set up a national agency for cancer control, urging decision-makers to make cancer control a national health priority. [20]
Project Pink Blue has directly impacted[ clarification needed ] 1,235 [21] women and men through screening and enlightened[ clarification needed ] over a million [22] people in Africa through Radio, Television and Social Media campaign. Besides awareness campaigns, the group supports cancer patients through fundraising. It was through one such fundraising event that the NGO raised around 5.5m naira (£14,000) in cash and 9m naira in drug support to enable Comfort Oyayi Daniel to have her chemotherapy when her savings ran out. [23] In November 2017, the nonprofit led some breast cancer patients and survivors to Nigeria's National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) to advocate for the expansion of insurance coverage for cancer drugs and services. [24]
The organization has partnered with:
Project Pink Blue is a member of Union for International Cancer Control, Geneva, Switzerland; partner to Federal Ministry of Health in Nigeria; voting member, CIVICUS World Alliance for Citizen Participation, Johannesburg, South Africa; Member of the World Health Organization's Partnership for Maternal, Newborn & Child Health.
Breast cancer is a cancer that develops from breast tissue. Signs of breast cancer may include a lump in the breast, a change in breast shape, dimpling of the skin, milk rejection, fluid coming from the nipple, a newly inverted nipple, or a red or scaly patch of skin. In those with distant spread of the disease, there may be bone pain, swollen lymph nodes, shortness of breath, or yellow skin.
The Union for International Cancer Control or UICC is a non-governmental organisation with some 1,180 member organisations in more than 170 countries.
Breast Cancer Awareness Month (BCAM), also referred to in the United States as National Breast Cancer Awareness Month (NBCAM), is an annual international health campaign organized by major breast cancer charities every October to increase awareness of the disease and raise funds for research into its cause, prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and cure.
Southern Ohio Medical Center is a 216-bed 501(C)(3) not-for-profit hospital in Portsmouth, Ohio. It provides emergency and surgical care, as well as other health care services. SOMC employs 2,600 full-time employees and part-time employees, has a medical staff of more than 140 physicians and specialists, and is supported by approximately 800 volunteers. In 2020, Fortune magazine ranked Southern Ohio Medical Center at number 22 of their Fortune List of the Top 100 Companies to Work For based on an employee survey of satisfaction.
ICanServe Foundation, Inc., formerly Information on Breast Cancer and Other Services, is a non-stock, non-profit organization that advocates early breast cancer detection through breast self-examination. Based in Manila, Philippines, and co-founded in 1999 by journalist Kara Magsanoc-Alikpala, a breast cancer survivor, the advocacy group empowers women with breast cancer and women cancer-related information so they can have a voice in their own health care. Its mission is to arm women with breast care health and breast cancer information so they can make informed decisions about their health. It also provides access to special services that will help the breast cancer survivor recover and heal more effectively.
Dare Art Alade, popularly known as Darey, is a Nigerian multi-platinum Afro R&B singer, songwriter, record producer, philanthropist, humanitarian and entrepreneur. He is also the son of the African jazz musician and entertainer Art Alade and the creative director of Livespot360.
Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology is a cancer care hospital in Bangalore, Karnataka. It is an autonomous institution of the Government of Karnataka and a Regional Cancer Centre funded by the Government of India. It was granted Regional Cancer Center status on 1 November 1980. The Indian Council of Medical Research has recognized this referral Institution as a research organization.
Nkiruka 'Kiki' Omeili is a Nigerian actress, best known for her role as Lovette in the TV series Lekki Wives. She is also known for her role as Blessing in the 2015 crime caper, Gbomo Gbomo Express alongside Gideon Okeke.
Clarence Abiodun Peters is a Nigerian music video director, filmmaker and cinematographer. He is the founder and CEO of Capital Dream Pictures, a production company that specialises in the realms of the performing arts, film and video. He is also the founder and CEO of Capital Hill Records, a record label home to Chidinma, Tha Suspect and Illbliss. He was ranked 2nd on Channel O's list of the Top 10 Most Visionary Music Video Directors.
Osabuohien Osaretin, better known by his stage name Sarz, is a Nigerian record producer, mixing engineer and musician. Born in Benin City, Edo State, he is popularly known for the tag Sarz On The Beat/"Really", at the beginning or end of all his music productions.
Korede Bello is a Nigerian singer and songwriter. He signed a record deal with Mavin Records in 2014. Bello is best known for his hit single "Godwin", a semi-gospel and pop song which became a national anthem and topped many music charts across Nigeria.
Luis Jose De Souza is an Indian surgical oncologist and the founder of Shanti Avedna Ashram, a charitable trust which runs a network of hospices in Mumbai and Goa. He has also contributed to the establishment of Indian Cancer Cell, an educational program co-sponsored by Tata Memorial Centre, Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) and Indian Cancer Society, for creating cancer awareness in schools. The Government of India awarded him the fourth-highest civilian honour of the Padma Shri in 1992.
Blandina Khondowe, born Blandina Mlenga, was best known for her role as Miss Malawi 2002 and for her breast cancer advocacy. She is the founder of Think Pink – Malawi campaign for breast cancer awareness and the founder of Hope for Cancer Foundation. She was an advocate for breast cancer awareness and spoke about the lack of facilities and access to equitable management. She, until her death on 21 November 2020, worked as a civil servant for Malawi's Ministry of Tourism.
Pink Caravan is a United Arab Emirates-based initiative to raise awareness of the importance of screening for breast cancer and to provide facilities for the early detection of, treatment for and recovery from the condition.
Princess Dina Mired is a Jordanian humanitarian and health activist. She is a leading global advocate for cancer control and non-communicable diseases (NCDs). She was the President of the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) from 2018 to 2020 and was the first Arab Muslim elected to lead in such a prestigious global post. Princess Dina is the former Director-General of the King Hussein Cancer Foundation. Princess Dina Mired was also recognized as one of the 100 Influential Women in Oncology by OncoDaily.
Oyekunle Opeyemi Oluwaremi, better known as Kunle Remi, is a Nigerian actor, producer, filmmaker, content creator, host, motivational speaker, entrepreneur, and model. He has appeared in Falling, Family Forever, Tinsel, and Aníkúlápó. He won the 7th edition of Gulder Ultimate Search in 2010. While studying at the New York Film Academy, he was simultaneously hosting an Internet TV Channel, Celebville 360. He made his first significant hosting appearance at the Academy Awards nomination event in Beverly Hills. By 2012, he was already cast in his first movie, Heavy Beauty, produced by Grace Edwin Okon and directed by Stanlee Ohikhuare. Though he graduated in 2014, he returned to study filmmaking and directing, and graduated in 2015.
Anietie "Anny" Robert is a Nigerian portrait photographer and creative director based in Niger State, Nigeria.
Patsy Yates is an Australian registered nurse, university professor, and institutional leader who works at the Queensland University of Technology (Brisbane), where she is a Distinguished Professor and Executive Dean of the Faculty of Health, Research Director of the Centre for Palliative Care Research and Education, and Co-Director of the Centre for Healthcare Transformation. She is a specialist in the field of palliative, cancer and aged care.
Cancerfonden, the Swedish Cancer Society, is an independent non-profit organisation that works to defeat cancer through financing cancer research in Sweden. The organisation does its fundraising via a 90-account, which is monitored and controlled by the Swedish Fundraising Control. The Swedish Cancer Society has a number of international partnerships, for instance with UICC since 1967 The Swedish Cancer Society works on several different levels, apart from being one of Swedens biggest cancer research financers they also spread knowledge about cancer, support patients and next of kin and advocate within both prevention, health care and research.
Genevieve Magazine is a Nigerian lifestyle publication founded by Betty Irabor in 2003. It has a circulation of 15–50,000 copies across Africa. Additionally, the magazine hosts the Genevieve Pink Ball, dedicated to breast cancer awareness and fundraising, and the Genevieve Beauty Awards. Genevieve Magazine has featured esteemed personalities such as Yvonne Nelson, Tems, Genevieve Nnaji, and Rita Dominic.