CLAIM: Africa Cancer Foundation (ACF) will be offering free breast cancer surgeries to women
SOURCE: WhatsApp
VERDICT: False (old message been re-circulated)
In a post that widely circulated on WhatsApp on Sunday, February 4, 2024, the author (identity not known) invites people who know of any women suffering from breast cancer, to advise them to get in touch with one Dorothy at Africa Cancer Foundation (ACF) not later than March 7 (year not mentioned). They further add that all expenses would be covered free of charge.
“Dear All,
Please if you know of any lady battling BREAST CANCER of whatever stage please advise her to contact Dorothy@africacancerfoundation.org before 7th March, all medical expenses are free,” reads the message.
“Please don’t keep this message to yourself, SHARE OR FORWARD to groups and save that woman’s life.”
Established in 2011 in Nairobi, Kenya, ACF is a charitable organisation working towards a cancer-free Africa by promoting the prevention of the disease and providing holistic solutions for people affected by cancer on the continent. The foundation seeks to establish best practice standards and promote exchange of experience with existing centres of excellence around the globe and thereby reduce the knowledge gap between the developed and the developing world.
However, in a press release published on their website dated February 5, 2024, ACF said they were not offering any free surgeries to breast cancer patients dismissing the message circulating on social media as “out of date and no longer relevant.”
ACF explained that the message which was for 2022 had been resuscitated in February this year online by an unknown source.
“In early 2022, the Africa Cancer Foundation (ACF) sent out a WhatsApp message inviting 200 breast cancer patients to sign up for FREE breast cancer surgeries,” said ACF.
The message sent out by ACF’s Board Member, Mrs. Dorothy Nyong’o, read as follows: “Once again, this year we are doing 200 free breast cancer operations. If you know anyone who requires breast surgery, it’s absolutely free of charge, including hospital stay. Please forward the name of the patient before March 7 to Dorothy Nyong’o.”
ACF said the resuscitated message has circulated on social media in countries that include Kenya, Congo, Nigeria, Uganda, Senegal, Zimbabwe, Tanzania and Canada.
“Unfortunately there are no free surgeries being offered this year as the funding is not there,” emphasized ACF.
“The message being circulated is out of date and no longer relevant.”
Conclusion
The message circulating on WhatsApp and other social media platforms to the effect that the Africa Cancer Foundation (ACF) will be offering free breast cancer surgeries to women has been rated as false and misleading. A 2022 message, which was genuine, has been manipulated by an unknown source to mislead the public.
