Sacrifice time for breast cancer screening

Fadzayi Maposah-Correspondent

As one gets older, there are things that become more important than others. 

I guess it is the maturity. 

Getting to maturity is not a walk in the park though. It is a long process that at some point is gruelling and painful. What I have discovered though is that today’s young people are liberated in some areas that some of my peers and I are not.

Take for instance that a young person today can look you in the eye and tell you very politely that they are not able to attend a wedding with you because either you informed them late or they have other plans.  The other plans can be simply staying at home!

 I am sure my peers can relate to this! I know that I can. Some of them are so assertive, they can surely say no without feeling guilty.  How many teenagers do you know who do not eat what they do not like? 

My daughters love mutakura (mix of any legumes such as cowpeas, ground nuts, round nuts and maize grains).

They are, however, particular about the proportions that the legumes are in. I have no problems with proportions.

 I am a mutakura lover all the way. Very faithful one for that matter. 

I used to get upset when I had a whole pot of mutakura and someone uses a tablespoon to dish the mutakura. 

Using the tablespoon as opposed to a serving spoon is a signal that the individual intends to just eat for survival! Then afterwards have a whole glass of water. 

Or the tablespoon can be used just because the individual loves the groundnuts but its not “allowed” just to select the groundnuts only, its either everything or nothing!

When I was a lot younger than I am now, I would declare that everyone would have to eat mutakura first before they could have something else.

I gave up when I realised that the level of mutakura could be same throughout the day. I would end up packing and freezing small lunch boxes of mutakura and either have the mutakura myself on other days or I would give to my peers who would be highly appreciative. We would then ask one another what was wrong with the children’s taste buds? 

Then as they became older, because I had become used to having to pack and freeze lunch boxes of mutakura I cooked less mutakura or I would go for months without cooking it.

Then they would ask why I was no longer cooking mutakura and I would just stare and then half longing to roll my eyes reply that I just did not feel like cooking mutakura.

Then I would almost fall off my chair if I was seated or almost drop to the ground if I was standing as I heard what followed: I miss mutakura so much! 

What is amazing is that these are the very same people who would not eat mutakura but when it was not available suddenly it was all they wanted. Life is ironic. We tend to value something when it is no longer there. We tend to take things for granted, thinking that those things will always be there. 

So many places have been offering and will continue to provide breast cancer awareness until this month ends.

 The month has become Pinktober. Some facilities may even continue the service provision into November.

 There is much discussion on the importance of breast cancer screening. 

But some people are behaving like my daughters and the mutakura pot. They peep into the pot and then get a tablespoon instead of a proper serving spoon to get as much mutakura as one can. 

With the influx of information all over the country now is the time to get as much information as is possible. 

Others are opting to share facilities that are providing service with others yet they themselves consider themselves not eligible for the service. It’s like my small daughters offering every visitor large bowls of mutakura not knowing that at some point they may want the mutakura but it will be finished or the cook will have decided that it is no longer time to cook mutakura. 

Then there are those who have accessed services but when they give feedback to others, make it so minimal that others may not realise how important it is to get screened. 

There are so many things that we devote ourselves to do that we can still do without. 

Is it not that you wake up and check messages on your phone, wondering if there is anyone who sent you messages while you were sleeping? The cellphone has become a great part of you and you accord it priority. What about a body part? 

What is more upsetting at times is that services can be for free but people who could access the services opt not to querying why the services are free! Seriously? 

Less is more. Sacrifice little time for breast cancer screening services and realise the benefits. Just knowing is a big step towards taking good care of your health. 

Weigh going for these services this month against spending time on social media where there seems to be a competition regarding who posts the most about their current status. 

I challenge you as this month draws to an end to use social media to encourage friends and family to access breast cancer screening. 

Let us avoid seeking for screening services when the promotions are over. You will probably get the service but for now let us put to good use the full mutakura pot. 

Get the serving spoon and dishing out so that everyone benefits. 

At the end of Pinktober the number that will say “ I miss mutakura so much,” should be the least. For now, we wear our pink ribbons with pride!