Ida Odinga’s new battlefront

How many people would treat their brother’s wife with respect and dignity if she does not have breasts or cannot give birth and suckle a baby?” Ida Odinga. Photo/ANTHONY NJOROGE

You are likely to see her in high profile functions. If not those with heavy political significance or undertones, then, it is at those with the who-is-who in the world of women.

As the wife of Prime Minister Raila Odinga, Ida has a constituency of women who listen to her, look up to her for counsel and follow most of what she is advocating.

Away from the political arena, Ida has had time to interact with women at non-political initiatives on issues that are of direct benefit to them.

On Saturday night, she will be on the podium at the John F. Kennedy Centre of Performing Arts in the US to receive the prestigious Global Leadership Award by the ‘Susan G. Komen for the Cure’ for her role in initiatives related to breast cancer.

“I am elated by this recognition. It comes at a time when I have just taken the battle against breast cancer to another level, the policy making level,” Ida told Saturday Magazine just before she flew out to the US to receive the award.

Through this recognition, she will become the Breast Cancer ambassador for Africa. By taking it to the policy level, Ida says, her concern will be to lobby government agencies to design mechanisms that make access to health services and dietary provisions for survivors of breast cancer easier and cheaper.

The reality and depth of the breast cancer monster is hugely ignored yet health experts have said it is becoming killer number one among women in Africa.

“It is a painful disease whose stigma can only rival the one suffered by people living with HIV/AIDS,” Ida says and introduces the reproductive angle to the disease.

“How many men out there would marry a woman whose breast(s) have been removed? How many people would treat their brother’s wife with respect and dignity if she does not have breasts or cannot give birth and suckle a baby?” she poses.

Leading cancer killer

In Kenya, the disease’s prevalence stands at 23 per cent of all cancers related to women and is getting higher, according to statistics provided by the Kenya Breast Health Programme (KBHP) where Ida is a major supporter.

Mary Onyango, the former executive director at KBHP and a reknown breast cancer activist terms Ida as the most outstanding supporter of the organisation’s programmes and activities.

“She has attended almost all our conferences to talk to women about the condition and to encourage them. We are very happy that she is being recognised for these efforts,” said Onyango who accompanied Ida to the US.

According to doctors, breast cancer is one of the few cancers that can be healed if detected early. Treatment is expensive with chemotherapy (use of medicine to weaken or destroy cancer cells) going for Sh3,500 per session.

With about 35-40 sessions needed to Another reason why Ida’s efforts in the fight against breast cancer were recognised emanated from her role at the continental level where she has impressed on several first ladies to be engaged in breast cancer health initiatives.

Among the women she has engaged are first ladies Chantal Biya (Cameroon),  Maria Guebuza (Mozambique), Thandiwe Banda (Zambia),  Callista Mutharika (Malawi), Mama Salma Kikwete (Tanzania) and former Nigerian firstlady Turai Umaru Yar’Adua (Nigeria).

Ida will share the podium with Laura Bush (wife of former US president George Bush), who will be receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award from the same Susan Komen Foundation, in the highly publicised awards ceremony.

She is the only African among the seven awardees with the others being reknown medical researchers Dr Craig Jordan, Dr Mary-Claire King and Dr Lasalle Leffall.

The roll of honour will also include Michelle Fenty (Community Award) and John Dingell (the Advocacy Award). Two weeks ago. Ida launched the Nairobi Hospital and Mater Hospitals’ Breast Cancer Support Groups.

These are groups that will bring together survivors, doctors, nurses and relatives to engage each other on how to manage the disease. “We want the society to understand and help reduce stigma associated with the disease,” said Ida.

To counter the disease, major hospitals have launched events where women are screened for the cancer free of charge. Ida hopes that with her new role as Africa’s ambassador on Breast Cancer, these free screening, diagnosis and treatment will trickle down to district hospitals.