WHO (Nigeria) Hosts the OCI Foundation and endorses its “Arm Our Youths (ArOY) Health Campaign” ahead of the national roll-out (March 6, 2020)

On Friday, March the 6^th, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) Country Office in Nigeria hosted representatives of the OCI Foundation at their office in the UN House, Abuja, Nigeria. The meeting was chaired by the WHO’s Head of Non-communicable Diseases (NCD) Cluster in Nigeria, Dr Rex Mpazanje. Other top WHO staff in attendance were Dr Olumuyiwa Ojo (the National Professional Officer, Maternal, Sexual and Reproductive health) and Dr Mary Dewan (a Director with the NCD Cluster).  On its part, the 3-man delegation of the OCI Foundation’s Advocacy Team included Mr Sam Agwa (Head, Advocacy Team), Dr Ramatu Umar Ibrahim (Advocacy Team Member and a Family Physician) and Miss Felicia Dagu (Advocacy Team Member).

At the meeting, the OCI Foundation’s  ArOY Health Campaign was roundly endorsed by the WHO representatives, with the Foundation immediately invited to make a formal presentation on the novel initiative at a National Cancer Summit for stakeholders coming up later this month (March 18th). The Foundation was also linked to the National Cancer Control Program (NCCP) at the  Federal Ministry of Health, Abuja, Nigeria,  and a subsequent meeting with the Coordinator, Mr Okpikpi, was very productive with a partnership set to develop and boost the national roll-out of the ArOY Campaign.

The ArOY Campaign is a Harvard-endorsed, evidence-based health promotion initiative of the OCI Foundation, which aims to introduce anti-breast and anti-cervical cancer teachings into the regular curriculum of all senior secondary schools in Nigeria and other developing countries. It aims to reach all of Nigeria’s 36 States (plus the FCT), along with all the high schools in the Country, by 2025. For the full details of the ArOY Campaign, its rationale, supporting research, and current partners to the program, please click HERE.