Amosun’s wife offers free breast surgeries to 30 Ogun women

The Uplift Development Foundation, founded by Olufunsho Amosun, the wife of former Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun, has sponsored free breast lump removal surgeries for 30 women, saving them the financial burden of treatment.

The former First Lady disclosed this on Tuesday during the surgical intervention programme in Abeokuta, saying no woman diagnosed with a breast lump should be denied treatment because they could not afford it.

The surgeries, medically known as lumpectomies, were funded by the former governor’s wife through the foundation.

Amosun said the intervention began in 2017 after the foundation discovered that women identified with breast lumps during its screening exercises often struggled to afford further investigations and treatment.

She said, “We started cancer awareness, advocacy and screening in 2012. But we realised that after identifying women with breast lumps, some of them could not afford the treatment they needed.

“That was why we decided to start supporting women who require surgery. We do not want financial constraints to prevent anyone from getting the care they need.”

She further said the latest screening exercise examined 655 people, identifying 81 cases of cervical-related health concerns and 53 breast-related cases.

Of the breast-related cases, 50 involved lumps, while further medical assessments established that 30 women required surgery.

The beneficiaries were subsequently offered the procedures free of charge.

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Amosun commended the surgeons, medical personnel and other health workers who participated in the exercise, stressing that early detection must go hand in hand with access to treatment.

She also said a special section was created during this year’s screening to encourage prominent individuals to undergo medical checks, noting that cancer screening should be taken seriously by everyone.

A paediatric oncologist at the Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta, Dr Morufat Ogundeyi, expressed concern over the number of breast lumps detected, saying the figure was higher than in previous exercises, which typically recorded about 15 lumpectomies.

She urged members of the public to embrace regular medical screening, warning against ignoring symptoms that could require urgent attention.

“Cancer affects both children and adults. Early diagnosis is important because it helps patients get appropriate treatment on time,” Ogundeyi said.

For one of the beneficiaries, Aminat Adebesin, the intervention meant relief from a financial burden that could have delayed her treatment.

Adebesin said she had discovered the lump only recently and might not have been able to afford the surgery promptly.

“I am grateful to the foundation and its sponsors. I have been relieved of the financial burden, and I am happy that I could get the surgery without having to worry about how to pay for it,” she said.