At least 1,000 women in Abuja are set to benefit from a free cervical cancer screening drive hosted by the Aproko Doctor Foundation.
The two-day outreach, supported by Awadoc and Nisa Premier Hospital, Jabi, is structured to provide screenings for 500 women per day.
Persecondnews reports that cervical cancer remains a major public health challenge in Nigeria.
It is the second most common cancer and the second leading cause of cancer deaths among women in the country, with over 12,000 new cases diagnosed each year and nearly 8,000 deaths reported annually.
The disease primarily affects women aged 15 to 44, and the high mortality rate is largely due to late detection, low awareness, and limited screening.
With over 60 million women at risk and almost all cases linked to Human Papillomavirus (HPV), the urgent need for preventive measures like HPV vaccination cannot be overstated.
Speaking with Persecondnews on the sidelines of the event flag off, founder of Aproko Doctor Global and co-founder of Awadoc, Dr. Egemba Chinonso Fidelis, popularly known as Aproko Doctor, highlighted the importance of the initiative and why preventive care is essential.
He said: “Community engagement is one of the core frameworks of the Aproko Doctor Foundation. Healthcare should involve everybody, and this outreach is a testament to that belief.
“Our goal is to screen 1,000 women, and this has been made possible through public donations from people who believe strongly in prevention and are committed to saving lives.”
“We strongly believe that nobody should go broke because of healthcare. That is why we continue to champion preventive care.
“Whenever people turn out for campaigns like this, we are encouraged because it shows they have embraced the message and are taking practical steps to remain disease-free,” he added.
Emphasizing that early detection saves lives, he urged women to make screening a top priority.
Dr. Joy Aifuobhokhan, Chief Operating Officer of Awadoc, added that the team focused heavily on the participant experience: “We carefully planned the logistics because we understand that the idea of being screened for cancer can already be stressful.”
“Our goal was to make the process as seamless as possible. Once participants arrive, they are registered, their data is taken, and they proceed to the waiting area. Their vital signs are checked before they move directly to screening.”
She added that because they are operating within a hospital environment, any positive case can immediately be referred for proper treatment and further care.
On Awadoc’s innovation, she said: “Awadoc is essentially a personal hospital on your phone via WhatsApp. Our goal is to ensure that every Nigerian with a mobile phone has access to 24/7 medical support.
“Instead of searching online for symptoms, users can consult qualified professionals, check symptoms, learn about diseases, and even order medications all from their phones.”
Speaking at the occasion, Adaeze Monwuba, a beneficiary of the outreach, described the initiative as impactful: “This is a very good initiative because it gives many Nigerian women, especially in Abuja, the opportunity to get screened, something many of us may not have access to due to financial constraints or lack of awareness.”
Folashade Bello, another beneficiary, said: “I applaud the organisers. This support goes a long way for people who cannot afford screening in a regular hospital setting.
“I believe more awareness is needed, especially at the grassroots level. Some women assume certain symptoms are normal because they have seen others experience it.
“But cervical cancer can stay in the body for years before showing symptoms. We need stronger education and government involvement to reach more women.”
Dr. Naja’atu Bawa, the doctor in charge of vital services at Nisa Premier Hospital, described the turnout as impressive.
“From our interactions, we can see that awareness has improved compared to previous times.”
Beyond the immediate clinical results, this initiative serves as a long-term preventive strategy to lower cervical cancer mortality in Nigeria.
By providing both screenings and education, the programme empowers women to move past immediate barriers and prioritize long-term health screenings.
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