Orange Holds Breast Cancer Awareness Raising Campaign & Screening
By: Alimatu Kargbo
On 3rd October 2026, Orange Sierra Leone Foundation, in partnership with Sierra Leone Commercial Bank, launched its 2026 breast cancer awareness, free screening and surgery campaign, targeting more than 5,000 women across the country, with the aim of promoting early detection and improving access to treatment.
The campaign, launched in Freetown following an 8-kilometre awareness walk, is being implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Health, Sierra Leone Commercial Bank, Sierra Leone Cancer Society, healthcare providers and other community partners.
Speaking at the launch, Orange Sierra Leone CEO and Board representative of the Orange Sierra Leone Foundation, Madam Aisha Dure, said the campaign is designed to reach women, particularly those in communities where access to healthcare remains difficult. She said the Foundation has supported the fight against breast cancer since 2015 and screened more than 2,500 women during last year’s campaign.
“This year, we want to reach more than 5,000 women, especially in communities where access to healthcare is more difficult,” Madam Dure said.
She stressed that the campaign was not simply about numbers, but about helping mothers, sisters, daughters, wives, colleagues and friends detect the disease early and access the care they need.
“Get screened, get screened early, and if you need care, follow through with your treatment,” she urged.
Madam Dure also called on men to support the campaign by encouraging women in their families and communities to go for screening and supporting them throughout treatment.
She thanked healthcare workers, volunteers, breast cancer survivors and all partners supporting the initiative, noting that the campaign seeks to move communities “from fear to knowledge, from silence to conversation, and from late diagnosis to early detection.”
Surgical Oncology Specialist and Director of the Oncology Unit at Connaught Hospital, Dr. Isaac Olufemi Small, said breast cancer remains an important public health concern and called for increased awareness at community level.
Dr. Small, who also serves as a lecturer at the College of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences, said health workers see patients coming from different parts of Sierra Leone and neighbouring countries for cancer treatment.
He said breast cancer can be successfully treated in many cases when it is detected early, encouraging people not to wait until symptoms become severe before seeking medical attention.
“If you come early, you will be able to get the treatment options that we have to make sure you get the cure,” Dr. Small said.
He encouraged women to examine their breasts regularly and to seek help whenever they notice unusual changes.
According to him, people do not necessarily have to wait to see a doctor before seeking advice, as nurses and other trained health workers can assess them and refer them to the appropriate facility when necessary.
Dr. Small also reminded the public that breast cancer is not exclusively a woman’s disease, as men can also develop the condition.
He said the Ministry of Health is working through its relevant directorates to strengthen cancer prevention, awareness, treatment and palliative care services across the country.
As part of the campaign, Sir H. B. Hospital, located near the Orange office, is offering free breast cancer screening to women throughout October.
A representative of the hospital said the screening exercise started on the day of the launch and would remain available throughout the month for women who are unable to attend on the opening day.
The representative encouraged women across the country to take advantage of the free service and make breast screening part of their regular health checks.
Managing Director of Sierra Leone Commercial Bank, Ibrahim Tito Sankoh, expressed the bank’s commitment to its partnership with Orange Sierra Leone Foundation in promoting breast cancer awareness.
Sankoh said the campaign should be treated as a national responsibility, urging community leaders and members of the public to take breast cancer screening seriously. He shared the story of a woman whose breast cancer was detected late, stressing that earlier detection could have provided an opportunity for timely treatment. He encouraged women to overcome fear or embarrassment and seek screening when it is available. Sierra Leone Commercial Bank, he said, is prepared to continue supporting efforts aimed at taking breast cancer awareness to communities across the country.
Deputy Minister of Health One, Professor Dr. Charles Senessie, who delivered the keynote address, commended Orange Sierra Leone Foundation and its partners for supporting the government’s efforts to improve healthcare delivery. He said the government is taking a holistic approach to healthcare, with women remaining a major priority in the country’s health agenda.
Professor Senessie highlighted progress in reducing maternal mortality and said the government is now working towards eliminating preventable maternal and child deaths. Turning specifically to cancer, he said early access to healthcare is critical and encouraged people to seek medical attention as soon as they notice health problems. He disclosed that the government is working to establish a state-of-the-art cancer treatment centre in Sierra Leone, while cancer services are also being strengthened in Kenema. He said efforts are underway to gradually expand access to mammography services across the country so that women can access breast cancer screening closer to their communities.
Professor Senessie said the government’s health agenda depends not only on public resources, but also on partnerships with the private sector and development partners. He thanked Orange Sierra Leone Foundation, Sierra Leone Commercial Bank and other partners for contributing to cancer awareness and treatment efforts. He also stressed that breast cancer awareness should not be limited to October, saying the Ministry of Health considers awareness and prevention an ongoing responsibility.
The campaign brought together government officials, healthcare professionals, cancer specialists, representatives of the Sierra Leone Cancer Society, Orange Sierra Leone Foundation, Sierra Leone Commercial Bank, community groups, market women and other partners.
The event also recognised the contribution of community members and groups supporting health initiatives, including market women and representatives of communities across Freetown.
With free screening available during October and plans to reach more than 5,000 women, organisers are calling on women and men across Sierra Leone to take breast cancer seriously. The central message from the launch was simple; early detection can save lives, and no woman should wait until breast cancer reaches an advanced stage before seeking help.
