Rina’s Empower Her Foundation Brings Free Breast Cancer Screening to Mabela Women
Alex Fefegula Harding Women in Freetown’s Mabela community have accessed free breast cancer screening through a community outreach initiative aimed at encouraging early medical attention and improving awareness of the disease.
Rina’s Empowered Her Foundation organised the exercise as part of activities marking Breast Cancer Awareness Month, offering women an opportunity to access screening without paying for the service.
The initiative also focused on educating participants about breast cancer symptoms and the importance of seeking professional medical advice when they notice unusual changes.
Speaking during the activity, foundation founder Marina Terry said the organisation works to address challenges affecting women through initiatives centred on health, education and empowerment.
Medical education formed part of the exercise, with Dr. Kelfala Marah, identified during the event as a cancer doctor at Connaught Hospital, explaining the importance of recognising possible warning signs.
Marah cautioned participants against assuming that a breast lump is harmless simply because it does not cause pain. He encouraged women to seek professional assessment rather than delay medical attention.
The foundation said its initiative was intended to encourage women to take greater responsibility for their health and make medical checks a regular part of their healthcare routines.
The exercise adds to wider breast cancer awareness efforts in Sierra Leone. A 2026 study abstract published by the American Association for Cancer Research highlighted barriers to early detection, including limited screening access, low awareness and delayed presentation for medical care.