The History and origin of mothering Sunday has many versions across the globe. However a most popular version has it that many years ago in the history of the church, Mothering Sunday was a special event usually celebrated on the 4th Sunday in Lent where prayers were said for the mother church in Jerusalem. Gifts were also sent to assist the growth of the church. In the course of events, the custom shifted from honouring the mother church in Jerusalem to honouring our biological mothers in appreciation of their roles which include giving birth, caring and nurturing of children as well as self denial and suffering. More importantly, women see the Mothering Sunday as great opportunity for evangelism.
The day will afford us time to honour and celebrate our mothers and other women dear to us with gifts and praises. It is one opportunity in the year to really make mothers feel special.
However as we celebrate this event, I want to use the opportunity to draw our attention to Nihi IgbiniJesu’s touching article posted on “connect Nigeria” web.site (February 25th, 2013) (a website devoted mainly to medical journals and related articles). The article calls on Nigerian mothers to make their theme for this mothering Sunday “saving Tomorrow’s Mothers”. Part of the article is reproduced here as our food for thought and possibly for action.
“Being a period of Lent in the calendar of the church characterized by prayer, penance, repentance, fasting and almsgiving, one could easily make it a very impactful day by raising public awareness and addressing a growing social problem affecting the girl child, who indeed, are the mothers of tomorrow- the Human Papilomavirus (HPV).
HPV is the causative virus of cervical cancer, which is the third most common type of cancer in women globally. Cervical cancer is a cancer that starts in cells on the surface of the cervix, the lower part of the woman’s womb. At early stage of the cancer, no symptoms show and so it is always impossible to diagnose without a screening. More so, reckless sexual behavior multiply the risk of contracting cervical cancer.
At a media briefing in Lagos, Isaac Adewale, a consultant Obstrician and gynecologist at the college of medicine University of Ibadan said cervical cancer is Nigeria’s second most prevalent form of cancer with about 10,000 cases seen every year. According to him, no fewer than 8,000 women will die from cervical cancer every year in a painful, miserable and unglorlified manner. Unfortunately 80% of the affected women in Nigeria still present in advance stages when very little could be done to prolong their lives.
Given the fact that HPV like HIV is spread through sexual intercourse and that, young girls especially from low income families are increasingly becoming sexually active from as early as 12years, one should consider creating awareness to this preventable scourge on Mothers’ Day.
Cervical cancer is preventable through the administrating of HPV vaccines like gardasil and cervarix. The vaccines are usually for 4 to 6 years and are advisable to administer to girls between 9 and 26. However the vaccine is very expensive making it highly unreachable to girls from low income families. 0.5ml vaccine could cost between N26,000 to N30,000.
Statistics show an almost 100 percent rise in incidence of cervical cancer in Nigeria by 2030 due to lack of awareness and inaccessibility to the vaccine.
Here is what you can do to stem the tide; Mobilize women groups in church or at work together we can achieve a lot. Mobilize funds from your colleagues at work or church to help pay for vaccines for girls at nearby public school. This could help save lives. More often than not, women are very sympathetic to causes that protect other women, so you are more likely to achieve success in this noble effort by appealing to them for support.
Start an Awareness campaign. Plan an event around Mothering Sunday to raise awareness of cervical cancer and its prevention, you could have a breakfast meeting for friends, or organize a walk and make T-shirts for participants. The chances that more people will be disposed to help lower the risk of the disease in Nigeria. Start with awareness. So do something.
Support an NGO. Make out a donation to a non-governmental organization with focus on lowering the scourge of cervical cancer in Nigeria. Make Mother’s day a good time to write a cheque or pledge your financial support.”
Make this year’s Mothers’ Day memorable by saving the lives of the mothers of tomorrow.
Your brother, Vicar & Archdeacon
Igein Isemede.