Sports is being used to encourage young women to embrace physical activity and take greater responsibility for their health as the Breast Cancer Initiative for East Africa (BCIEA) combines sport with cancer awareness in a community campaign at Zaria Court. The nine-day initiative brought together young women for basketball, fitness activities and free health screenings, using sport as a platform to promote breast cancer awareness, preventive healthcare and the importance of early detection. Ishimwe MaLuwa, a basketball player participating in the initiative for the second time, said sports had helped her maintain her fitness and overall wellbeing. “As a basketball player, sport has helped me stay in good shape,” she said, expressing satisfaction with the event’s progress compared with the previous year. ALSO READ: PHOTOS: Fitnesspoint opens fourth branch in Kanombe MaLuwa said sporting activities could also play an important role in raising awareness and encouraging women to prioritise their health. “It’s a way to spread awareness and encourage women to take care of their health,” she said. She urged young women to embrace physical activity and make regular health checks part of their routines, noting that staying active contributes to overall wellbeing. The campaign combined basketball and fitness sessions with health education and screenings, allowing participants to engage in physical activity while accessing preventive health services. Philippa Carolyin Kibugu-Decuir, the founder and chief executive officer of BCIEA, said sports provides an opportunity for people to socialise, build connections and learn from one another. She said the initiative was designed to move beyond awareness-raising by encouraging participants to take practical steps towards protecting their health. “Awareness must take action,” Kibugu-Decuir said. She explained that fear, stigma and cultural beliefs often discourage people from seeking medical attention, even when screening services are available. By integrating sport with health services, organisers hope to create a welcoming environment where women can discuss cancer openly, access screening and become more proactive about their wellbeing. During the campaign, participants accessed health checks, including blood pressure measurements, diabetes assessments and body mass index (BMI) evaluations, alongside clinical examinations conducted by qualified health professionals. Kibugu-Decuir said clinical examinations identified several suspicious masses, although further investigations are needed to determine whether they are cancerous. FitnessPoint also brought energy to the campaign through a community aerobics session, with women participating in fitness activities, including treadmill workouts, and signing up for gym memberships. The activities reinforced the campaign’s message about the importance of active lifestyles alongside cancer awareness. Kibugu-Decuir expressed gratitude to the sponsors and partners whose support contributed to the initiative’s success, highlighting FitnessPoint among those who backed the campaign. For MaLuwa and the other young women who took part, the initiative demonstrated how basketball can serve a purpose beyond competition by bringing communities together around an important health message. Through the combination of sport, health screenings and community engagement, BCIEA hopes to encourage more women to prioritise their health, seek timely medical advice and take preventive measures to improve their wellbeing.
