The awareness and prevention campaign was organised by the Femi Olutoye Foundation for selected women in Iragbiji, a town in Osun State. The initiative formed part of activities marking International Women’s Day, an annual global event celebrated every March 8 to highlight issues affecting women, including health and well-being.
During the outreach held on Sunday, participants received information about cervical cancer, its causes, and the importance of early screening as a key strategy for preventing avoidable deaths linked to the disease.
A nursing lecturer at Adeleke University, Karimat Jolayemi, who served as the lead facilitator for the programme, emphasised the need for stronger collaboration among individuals, organisations, and government institutions to expand access to cervical cancer screening services.
She commended the foundation for organising the awareness initiative, noting that such programmes play a crucial role in improving women’s health, especially in communities with limited access to medical information and screening services.
Speaking during the lecture session, Jolayemi described cervical cancer as one of the most common causes of death among women, both globally and in Nigeria. According to her, the disease ranks among the leading causes of cancer-related deaths in women, despite being largely preventable through early detection and timely treatment.
She explained that many women remain unaware of the risk factors and preventive measures associated with cervical cancer, making community education programmes essential in reducing the burden of the disease.
According to her, cervical cancer often develops without obvious symptoms in its early stages, which makes regular screening particularly important.
“When detected early, cervical cancer can be treated successfully. However, many cases are discovered late because women may not experience symptoms until the disease has progressed,” she said.
She noted that the primary goal of the outreach was to educate women about the causes of cervical cancer, available preventive measures, and where they could access screening services.
Call for Stronger Primary Healthcare Involvement
Jolayemi also urged government authorities to strengthen partnerships with non-governmental organisations and community groups to improve screening services, particularly at the primary healthcare level.
According to her, training healthcare workers in rural health facilities would significantly expand access to screening for women who may not be able to reach specialised medical centres.
She suggested that cervical cancer screening could be integrated into routine maternal and child health services offered at primary healthcare centres.
For instance, she explained that women visiting clinics for postnatal care, immunisation programmes, infant welfare services, or family planning consultations could also be screened for cervical cancer during those visits.
Jolayemi further noted that screening does not necessarily require expensive equipment and could be conducted using more affordable methods than the traditional Pap smear test.
She said government support in providing basic screening materials—such as reagents, speculums, and other essential supplies—would enable primary healthcare facilities to carry out screening more regularly.
According to her, collaboration between NGOs and local healthcare workers could also help build capacity and ensure the availability of screening tools in underserved communities.
“With proper training and minimal financial support, primary healthcare workers can screen more women. This will ultimately help reduce mortality because cervical cancer remains one of the leading causes of death among women,” she added.
Foundation’s Community Outreach Efforts
Beyond health education programmes, the Femi Olutoye Foundation has been involved in several humanitarian initiatives aimed at supporting vulnerable populations in rural communities across Osun State.
In December 2025, the organisation distributed free food packs to about 300 residents of Obaagun, including persons living with disabilities, widows, and elderly members of the community.
The distribution exercise took place in the presence of community elders and traditional chiefs.
Speaking on the initiative, the foundation’s Coordinator for Food and Shelter, Iyanuoluwa Adekanbi, said the intervention formed part of the organisation’s annual humanitarian programme aimed at supporting vulnerable groups, particularly those living in rural and underserved areas.
She explained that Obaagun was selected for the outreach because of its rural location and the limited access many residents have to social support and welfare services.
According to her, the foundation remains committed to expanding its outreach efforts in areas such as healthcare awareness, humanitarian assistance, and community support programmes.