2024 Blue Hat Bow Tie Weekend: Africa
In partnership with the Blue Hat Foundation, Blue Hat Bow Tie Weekend is GCCA’s Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month initiative. To spread awareness and promote colorectal cancer screening, GCCA supports organizations and individuals to hold events in their communities and provides free event planning and promotional resources as well as medically accurate, patient-friendly educational materials. More than 20 organizations and individuals held events for Blue Hat Bow Tie Weekend. These wonderful advocates spread awareness about colorectal cancer and shared information about screening and prevention in communities around the world.
We are so grateful to the Blue Hat Bow Tie Steering Committee for their hard work and insights that led to a great Blue Hat Bow Tie Weekend. Many thanks to Hana Nimer of SAID NGO, Maud Mwakasungula of Women's Coalition Against Cancer, Anastacia Bosire of Kenyatta National Hospital, and Rachel Blakney of the Blue Hat Foundation.
Blue Hat Bow Tie Weekend Highlights in Africa
Empowerment for Sustainable Livelihood hosted an awareness event in Ghana. The event brought together approximately 90 participants, including individuals from diverse backgrounds such as healthcare professionals, community leaders, and concerned citizens. Dr. Sharon Awuni, a renowned expert in oncology, delivered an informative talk on colon cancer awareness. Her presentation covered crucial topics including risk factors, symptoms, screening methods, and preventive measures and included a question-and-answer session. Attendees actively participated, demonstrating a strong commitment to learning and spreading awareness within their communities.
The Africa Cancer Foundation provided colorectal cancer information and promoted awareness at the opening of a stoma clinic in Kenya. Their target audience included survivors, families, medical personnel, and the general public. Volunteers and survivors affected by colorectal cancer wore bow ties and hats for colorectal cancer awareness. The Africa Cancer Foundation distributed colorectal cancer fact sheets to educate the public on the importance of early detection and informed them about the signs and symptoms that could be indicative of colorectal cancer. They also had a call to action via their social media pages for people to join them by wearing blue hats and bow ties in honor of those affected by the disease.
Kenyatta National Hospital, in Kenya, held several informative sessions on colorectal cancer, providing information on signs and symptoms, available screening tests and where they are found in the country, available cancer management centers in the country, and other resources available to assist patients. They convened a support group at the hospital's treatment center where two colon cancer survivors shared their experiences with symptoms, screening, diagnosis, and treatment.
In Malawi, the Women's Coalition Against Cancer (WOCACA) held their event at the Malawi National Cancer Centre open ground under Kamuzu Central Hospital. Speakers included colon cancer survivors and clinicians, and media presence facilitated a deeper engagement with the public, enhancing a wider understanding and appreciation of the event's objectives and outcomes.
In Nigeria, the David Omenukor Foundation held a public colorectal cancer awareness lecture on prevention, risk factors, and treatment.There was a workshop after the lecture to assess the level of assimilation, and fecal occult blood colon cancer screening was provided.
The Mbakuran Vaakaa Cancer Foundation went into hard-to-reach areas in Nigeria, including an internally displaced persons camp, to create awareness for colorectal cancer.
Nest Of Hope Advocacy and Support Community hosted two events in Abia, Nigeria where colorectal cancer survivors shared their stories to raise awareness in their community. Screening was offered to the more than 150 attendees. The events received media coverage on African Independent Television, extending the reach of Nest of Hope's efforts to broaden awareness of colorectal cancer.
Niola Cancer Care Foundation held an awareness event at a local church in Lagos, Nigeria. The choir wore blue, along with many attendees, to bring attention to colorectal cancer and spread the word that colon cancer is beatable when detected early.
Project PINK BLUE - Health & Psychological Trust Center hosted "Blue-Themed Volunteer Appreciation Day" to create awareness of colorectal cancer through survivor stories and to celebrate the volunteers who have supported the community in Abuja, Nigeria. With expert insights from Dr. Chinedu Simeon Aruah, participants were equipped with knowledge on early detection and prevention strategies. Adorned in blue, they pledged to be frontline advocates, spreading awareness and saving lives.
Also in Nigeria, the St. Cyril Cancer Treatment Foundation distributed blue face towels tied with a ribbon to raise awareness about colorectal cancer. Since face towels are commonly used to wipe sweat in hot Nigerian climates, the towels serve as a consistent reminder of colorectal cancer. Each towel bears the inscription “Your Colon Matters: Say No To Substance Abuse” and was available in three predominant Nigerian languages Yoruba, Igbo, and Hausa. Nearly 300 residents received education about colorectal cancer and had the opportunity to participate in a questionnaire. Individuals at high risk were offered the opportunity to participate in free screening.
On behalf of GCCA, our Regional Director of Southern Africa, Tumi Ramasodi, held a Blue Hat Bow Tie event at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital, in Soweto, Johannesburg, South Africa to educate patients, staff, and the general public. On the following day, Tumi hosted a hiking event to support colorectal cancer. Tumi also gave several radio interviews throughout March to increase awareness, inform the public about signs and symptoms of colorectal cancer, and promote screening.
Learn more about Blue Hat Bow Tie Weekend and its history at globalcca.org/programs/blue-hat-bow-tie. And check out the rest of our 2024 Blue Hat Bow Tie Weekend wrap-up featuring events in Asia, Europe, and North America! Thank you to our Blue Hat Bow Tie Weekend sponsor, Takeda Oncology.