In an effort to stop cervical cancer from becoming the second most common cancer among women in Nigeria, the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has started a five-day free cervical cancer screening programme for women.
Dr. Kenneth Nworie, a corp member and the outreach’s organiser, stated that the programme, which aims to reach 500 women, is open to anyone aged 25 to 60 who hasn’t had a screening, particularly in the last three years.
The NYSC Coordinator for Lagos, Mrs. Yetunde Baderinwa, flagged off the screening on Monday at the Ajibulu Health Center in Oshodi-Isolo. The screening will take place from December 12 to December 16.
According to Nworie, the premise behind the screening programme is that cervical cancer is the only female malignancy that can be almost completely prevented.
“Cervical cancer is on the increase in Nigeria and it’s due to the lack of awareness, lack of nearby facilities and financial constraints, so I thought of a way to address these issues.
“As a medical professional, I come across several cases but the one that pains me most is cervical cancer, because it’s preventable, I believe that no woman should die of it.
“In this five-day outreach, we are looking at screening 100 women daily, it’s free to create opportunity for those in and outside the community to get themselves screened and know their status,” he added.
The Windsor University School of Medicine graduate from St. Kitts and Nevis expressed gratitude for the support and inspiration received from people like Mrs. Yetunde Baderinwa, the coordinator for the NYSC programme, the IDR Memorial Foundation, and Dr. Osinachi Ubani.
However, he added that he would welcome a sharp decline in the prevalence of cervical cancer in Nigeria from the current level of 2 to 15, and that there will be progress reports as a result of screening and ongoing awareness campaigns.
Speaking, Baderinwa expressed her admiration for Dr. Nworie and described him as a corp member who distinguished himself by profoundly influencing the lives of local women through the programme.
She urged women in the targeted age group to take advantage of the community’s free screening programme to learn about their status and emphasised the need of early diagnosis.
She claims that the plan is for the Corp members to settle into the neighbourhood and determine the needs of the locals, as is doing place right now.
“Dr. Nworie has come into Oshodi-Isolo and noticed that there is a dearth of awareness regarding cervical cancer and took it upon himself, approached sponsors that are supposing him in this project.
“I am very proud of him, this is part of the reason I am here to encourage him, he is passionate, caring and determined to use his profession to affect lives and live a footprint,” she added.
In order to avoid falling behind, the NYSC Coordinator in Lagos advised fellow corp members to focus on other needs, particularly when they notice a gap in their community.
Dr. Ubani, the medical health officer for the Oshodi-Isolo Local Government Area, commented on the sidelines that the community’s corp members have been exceptional and praised the free cervical cancer screening as a commendable and positive development.
She pointed out that others had developed impressive projects to deal with pressing issues in the neighbourhood and said that doing so would always give them the support they needed to contribute to social growth.
Ubani further referred to its secondary facility as a follow-up and said that any women who tested positive during the screening will be treated.
“We are impressed with services of corp members posted to Oshodi-Isolo, but this particular one will top it all because it is addressing a large number, in short they have been very wonderful,” she added.
