By Chioma Obinna

FemCare Initiative has successfully carried out a free cervical cancer screening outreach in Edo State, screening 300 women using the Visual Inspection with Acetic Acid (VIA) method.

The outreach was part of a broader community health intervention aimed at improving early detection of cervical cancer and increasing awareness among women, especially those with limited access to preventive healthcare services. In addition to clinical screenings, the initiative reached over 4,000 women through community sensitisation activities, including health talks, door-to-door advocacy, and distribution of educational materials on cervical cancer prevention and symptoms.

Many of the women screened had never undergone a cervical cancer test before, highlighting ongoing gaps in awareness and access to routine screening. The VIA method, recommended for use in low-resource settings, allowed for same-day screening, immediate counselling, and prompt referral for women who required further medical evaluation.

According to the founder, Dr. Victory Ifeanyichukwu Uzoma, the outreach was designed to bring life-saving services closer to women at the community level.

“Cervical cancer is one of the most preventable yet deadly cancers affecting women in Nigeria,” Dr. Uzoma said. “Many women still do not get screened simply because services are too far, too expensive, or they lack the right information. By taking screening directly to communities, we are helping women protect their health and their futures.”

Cervical cancer remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths among women in Nigeria, despite being largely preventable through early detection and timely treatment. Public health experts continue to emphasise the importance of routine screening, awareness, and stronger integration of cervical cancer services into primary healthcare.

The outreach was implemented with support from D-Prize and in collaboration with Cancer Advocacy Nigeria and Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, reinforcing the role of partnerships in expanding access to women’s health services.

FemCare Initiative has reaffirmed its commitment to scaling similar cervical cancer screening and education programmes to more communities across Edo State and other parts of Nigeria, with the goal of reducing preventable deaths and improving women’s overall health outcomes.