Kemi Windapo, Nigeria
In my first year in secondary school, I was told that my mum had left town on 'business' when she got back after a year of 'business', she looked so sickly and emaciated, she smelled like hospital. It didn't take much to realise that she had been ill and not only had she been ill; she battled and won against breast cancer. That period in my life was extremely difficult because I was young, emotional and no one was doing any talking as is common in African households. I had to learn to pick up after myself and understand things without being told. 15 years gone, she's alive well and thinking about options of breast reconstruction. My experience has made me extremely cautious about my health and I don't take any symptoms I have with levity. I do my Breast Examination after each menstrual period and get a yearly breast scan. I have made awareness for Breast Cancer in my local environment. Now, As a medical professional, I am faced with the challenge of attending to patients with various NCDs especially Hypertension and Diabetes which are prevalent in my immediate environment. I counsel patients on the risk factors for NCDs as well as their management, complications and the importance of drug compliance. My dream is to be able to educate people on a large scale so as to uphold the pillar of primary prevention of illnesses which is health education.