I&M Bank Rwanda Plc on Saturday, November 1, partnered with the Breast Cancer Initiative East Africa (BCIEA) and joined hundreds of participants in the annual Ulinzi walk, an awareness campaign aimed at honouring survivors and promoting early detection and treatment of breast cancer.

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The walk, which has grown into a signature event in Rwanda since its inception in 2007, was held on the premises of Green Hills Academy in Kigali. It brought together a diverse mix of participants, including students, community health workers, medical professionals, and corporate partners.

The event featured interactive discussions, sports activities, and free health screenings for breast cancer and other non-communicable diseases (NCDs), conducted by healthcare experts.

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This year’s edition emphasised open conversations to dispel myths surrounding the disease, promote early recognition of symptoms, and encourage timely medical intervention.

Experts from Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC) and other health institutions provided insights into how breast cancer develops, its warning signs, and treatment options, underscoring that early detection remains the most effective way to save lives.

Organisers reiterated that the Ulinzi Walk is more than a symbolic event, it serves as a platform to educate and empower communities about breast cancer, which remains the second most common cancer among women in Rwanda after cervical cancer, with an estimated 650 new cases recorded annually.

Philippa Kibugu Decuir, the founder of BCIEA and a 30-year breast cancer survivor, said "I truly believe that if we can shape young minds with the right knowledge and lifestyle choices, they will grow into informed, responsible adults”, adding, "Everybody comes here not thinking about themselves, but about accountability and responsibility, how they can make a difference.”

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Kibugu, who started the campaign after losing her sister to breast cancer in Rwanda seven years before she herself survived the disease, said the experience pushed her to act. "When I came to Rwanda in 2007, I was shocked there was no knowledge about the disease, a lot of stigma, and no oncologists,” she recalled. "But we kept doing awareness campaigns. We went to villages, schools, offices, and churches, and slowly people started listening.”

She praised Rwanda’s progress in cancer awareness and treatment, noting that services are now covered under Mutuelle de Sante, the country’s public health insurance system.

"Rwanda has a universal health insurance model that even the U.S doesn’t have. Despite being a low-income country, it has made tremendous progress. We now have oncologists and treatment centres like Butaro Hospital, and Rwanda Cancer Centre (RCC) at Rwanda Military Referral and Teaching Hospital in Kanombe,” she said.

"I was thrilled when the government started covering the cost of radiation and chemotherapy. And hearing that Rwanda and Senegal are working on a breast cancer vaccine, it’s incredible with Rwanda taking the lead.”

Reflecting on the growing awareness, she noted the recent involvement of female ambassadors in national campaigns. "The more people we have spreading this message, the more lives we can save. I’m celebrating that progress today,” she said.

"However, challenges remain, people are coming in late stages. They should come in, they should be practicing breast health exam or clinical exam. We have resources, but it&039;s very hard to tell people, go get checked. They are still fearful, they're guilty, their mindset. So a lot has to be.”

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Through BCIEA, several women from Musanze and Kirehe Districts were sponsored to attend this year’s event for medical checkups after discovering suspicious lumps during community screenings. "The representative from RBC assured me they will follow up with biopsies, which is fantastic,” Kibugu said. "I can not personally support all 18 of them, but knowing they will get help means a lot.”

She emphasised that partnerships with institutions like I&M Bank are critical to sustaining the campaign. "Breast cancer is everybody’s business,” she said. "If 12 women’s lives can be saved, can you even put a price on that?”

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Fiona Kamikazi, Head of Marketing and Communication at I&M Bank Rwanda, reaffirmed the Bank’s commitment to empowering women and communities.

"Women are truly at the heart of who we are, from the many brilliant women who drive our bank’s success every day to the countless others who trust us as customers and partners,” she said.

"Joining the Ulinzi Walk this year is deeply personal to us. It is about standing together, raising awareness, and reminding every woman of the importance of early detection through regular breast cancer screening. Together, we walk in hope, strength, and solidarity, because when women thrive, communities thrive.”

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Kibugu has also created community support spaces such as the Pink House, where cancer patients gather for emotional support and financial literacy sessions. BCIEA also produces and distributes breast prostheses made in Rwanda, provided free-of-charge to women who have undergone mastectomy.

Under its slogan "Ikunde, Imenye, Isuzumishe” which translates to "Love yourself, Know yourself, Get checked”, the BCIEA campaign continues to inspire change across the country.

Speciose Dusengimana, a community health worker from Gatore Sector in Kirehe District, attested to the impact.

"After meeting Philippa in 2021, I felt compelled to spread awareness. In 2023, a 62-year-old man came for screening after recognising symptoms and was diagnosed at an early stage. He’s now receiving treatment,” she said.

"People are learning how to perform self-checks and understand the disease better. Events like today’s provide valuable knowledge that we take back to our communities.”

According to the Rwanda Biomedical Centre, breast cancer remains a major public health concern, with around 650 new cases recorded annually, including diagnoses among men, and approximately 600 deaths each year. In 2022 alone, 799 new cases were reported among women.