By PRISCA SAM-DURU

ART enthusiasts were, weekend, in Lagos, treated to the opening of a most emotive photography exhibition which brought to the fore, the urgent need to put in more efforts to fight the scourge of breast cancer.

The three-day unique breast cancer awareness photo exhibition  which opened last weekend, at the Goethe Institut, Lagos, was organsied by one of Nigeria’s most talented contemporary photographers and creative director of Camara Studios, Yetunde Ayeni-Babaeko with some of her colleagues, Yemi Disu, owner of Four23 photography and Damilola Kuku, creative director of Supzie XPression Studio, to create more awareness of the disease and raise funds for the victims.

* One of the images displayed at the exhibition

Themed, “Battle Scars,” the photography exhibition by the X-Perspective which runs till March 29, 2014, according to Goethe-Institut’s programme Assistant, Aderinsola Ajao, who officially opened the exhibition, is a charity event designed to create more awareness for breast cancer, early diagnosis and treatment. “Kindly support this project to help reduce the menace of breast cancer in our society. We are happy to have you here,” Ajao pleaded with the viewers. While many breast cancer victims were not lucky to tell their stories, some of the  images on display at the hall are narratives that capture the excruciating struggles by people who have fought and eventually conquered breast Cancer which left scars on their form.

The initiator of the exhibition, Yetunde Babaeko, stressed that the exhibition is aimed at bringing the masses closer to the subject so as to inspire people to help  curb breast cancer and above all, to raise funds.

“Some were asking me what I stand to achieve in this exhibition, nobody wants to see pictures of treated breast cancer survivors including me and the breast cancer survivors and nobody wants to buy the pictures. Proceeds from these artworks are going to be used for the treatment of breast cancer patients and their drugs,” she explained.

Babaeko also explained that, “According to the World Health Organization (WHO) standards, one radiotherapy machine per million people, but Nigeria with over 160 million people have only two radiotherapy machines working. Of course! People may say government supposed to provide the machines but there should be a way out by supporting the treatment of breast cancer.

“Photography has been an experience, that is why we are doing this to give life a meaning to people with breast cancer. You can purchase an item like a post card from this exhibition from 500 naira. Proceeds from the sale of images and postcards are solely for the treatment of patients on the Sebeccly Cancer Care Foundation’s waiting list.”

One of the images shows a middle aged survivor sitting in her apartment while brooding over her predicament. Another photo presents a beautiful woman stylishly wearing a hat but looking dejected due to her situation. She covers her face with her scarf, while hanging on hope for survival. All images on display are different but tell same story- “battle for survival, and having conquered, they have their different stories of the battle, of hope, survival, stigmatization and acceptance.”

One of the survivors of breast cancer and also, a beneficiary of the Sebeccly Cancer Care, said she got to know about the centre when she needed over N10 million to continue with her care. “My father is late and my mother is a struggling widow managing in the village.

Breastfeedeing last child

My fiancée who had two shops and a plot of land in Lagos sold everything he had to save me but to no avail. It was when I was at the end of the road, when all my hope of survival was lost that I heard about Sebeccly. It is not just the money they assist you with that makes Sebeccly wonderful, it is the care, the encouragement, the education, the love,” she said amidst tears.

She detected her lump early enough while breast feeding her last child, and got it removed immediately but was advised to have a mastectomy to avoid any further problem by her doctor. This survivor lives happily with her family in Lagos where she teaches Geography in a Government Secondary School.

Dr Fakolade Adeola of Sebeccly Cancer Care and Support Centre who was on ground to educate participants at the exhibition, explained that while all breast lumps are not malignant, early detection of a lump in one’s breast does not always mean a death sentence.