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 Cervical cancer is a cancer arising from the cervix or in any layer of the wall of the cervix. It is due to the abnormal growth of cells that can invade or spread to other parts of the body. Early on, typically no symptoms are seen. Later sympt ...

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 Project PINK BLUE won the SPARC Metastatic Breast Cancer challenge grant by

Union for International Cancer Control The Union for International Cancer Control (previously named International Union Against Cancer) or UICC is a non-governmental organisation with over 1,150 member organisations in more than 170 countries and territories. UICC was founded in 1933 ...

and Pfizer Oncology in Lisbon, Portugal.

History

Project Pink Blue started in 2013 as a

National Youth Service Corps The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) is a mandatory, post-tertiary scheme set up by the Nigerian government during the military regime of Head of State, Yakubu Gowon, to "reconstruct, reconcile and rebuild the country after the Nigerian ...

(NYSC) community development project, known as Project Pink through which Runcie C. W. Chidebe, carried out a breast and cervical cancer awareness and screening for 165 women in Kabusa community, a suburb of

Abuja Abuja (; , ) is the capital city of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, strategically situated at the geographic midpoint of the country within the Federal Capital Territory (Nigeria), Federal Capital Territory (FCT). As the seat of the Federal G ...

. In 2014, the organization included

prostate cancer Prostate cancer is the neoplasm, uncontrolled growth of cells in the prostate, a gland in the male reproductive system below the bladder. Abnormal growth of the prostate tissue is usually detected through Screening (medicine), screening tests, ...

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 and celebrities like

Korede Bello Korede Bello (born 29 February 1996) 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 ...

Chidinma Ekile Chidinma Ekile (born 2 May 1991), known mononymously as Chidinma, is a Nigerian singer, songwriter, and actress. A native of Imo State, Chidinma was born in Ketu, Kosofe, Lagos State. In 2010, she gained prominence after winning the third seaso ...

Oge Okoye Oge Okoye (; born 16 November 1980) is a Nigerian actress. She is from Nnewi in Anambra State, but was born and educated in London. Education Okoye attended the University Primary School Enugu and moved on to the Holy Rosary College, Enugu for ...

, Annie Idibia, and others to bring the message about early dictation and treatment to limelight.

Activities

The organization has regularly organized World Cancer Day, International Breast Awareness Day popularly known as Pink October, Community outreaches, Global Day of Citizens Action, Cancer Research. On 29 & 30 September, Project Pink Blue hosted Wiki Loves Women event in Abuja. Stakeholders at World Cancer Day 2016 Commemoration event organized by Project PINK BLUE

Stakeholders at World Cancer Day 2016 Commemoration event organized by Project PINK BLUE

BCNPP

In January 2015, Project Pink Blue sets up the first Nigerian Patients Navigation programme known as Breast Cancer Navigation and Palliative Programme (BCNPP).

World cancer day

Project Pink Blue organizes world cancer day every February for the past four years. The event featured road walk, free cancer screening and symposium with dignitaries such as a veteran Nigerian broadcaster

Sadiq Daba Sadiq Abubakar Daba (1951/52 – 3 March 2021) was a Nigerian actor and broadcaster. In 2015, he won Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actor for his role as "Inspector Waziri" in ''October 1''. Education He had his secondary education at St ...

08000CANCER

On 2 December 2016, the organization launched the first Nigerian cancer toll-free line known as 08000CANCER or 08000226237.

Abuja Breast Cancer Support Group

Project PINK BLUE chose the occasion of

World Cancer Day World Cancer Day is an list of minor secular observances#February, international day marked on :4 February to raising awareness, raise awareness of cancer and to encourage its cancer prevention, prevention, Cancer screening, detection, and treatm ...

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.

Upgrade Oncology

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

Men on Blue is a health intervention focused on breaching the gap of awareness, education and screening for prostate cancer in Nigeria.

Advocacy

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. Project Pink Blue has directly impacted 1,235 women and men through screening and enlightened over a million 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. 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.

Grants and awards

* Nelson Mandela-Graca Machel Innovation Award, 2014 * SPARC MBC Challenge Award, Lisbon Portugal

Partnerships

The organization has partnered with: * Federal Ministry of Health, Nigeria * Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) * Pfizer Oncology * Dana Airline * Premium Times * Africa Independent Television * U.S. Embassy in Nigeria *

Jumia Jumia is a marketplace, logistics service and payment service, operating throughout Africa. The logistics service enables the delivery of packages through local partners while the payment services facilitate the payments of online transactions ...

* ACT Foundation * farmpays

Affiliations

Project Pink Blue is a member of

, 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 The World Health Organization (WHO) is a list of specialized agencies of the United Nations, specialized agency of the United Nations which coordinates responses to international public health issues and emergencies. It is headquartered in Gen ...

Partnership for Maternal, Newborn & Child Health Established in 2005, The Partnership for Maternal, Newborn & Child Health (PMNCH) is the world’s largest alliance for women’s, children’s and adolescents’ health and well-being, with over 1,400 partner organizations working together thro ...

References

External links

Official website
{{authority control Cancer organizations International medical and health organizations