Holds Cervical Cancer Awareness Campaign and Free Screening
The Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu–Alike Women Association (AE–FUNAI WA), the umbrella body of all women associations in the University in collaboration with Joyce John Cancer Foundation on Tuesday, 4th February, 2020 launched its new Women H ealth Initiative, during which Cervical Cancer Awareness Campaign and free Screening was organized for all women, at the University NEEDS Assessment Building.


President, AE-FUNAI WA, Dr. Mrs. Chinyere Nwajiuba making opening remarks

The President, AE-FUNAI WA and Coordinator of the programme, Dr. Mrs. Chinyere Nwajiuba, welcomed all AE-FUNAI women and guests present at the event, informing them that the programme was organized to launch AE-FUNAI Women Health Initiative in conjunction with Joyce John Cancer Foundation. She stated that the whole idea of the programme was to educate the women on the scourge of cancer of the cervix and conduct free screening on them. She explained that the Month of February is marked all over the world as cancer month, so AE-FUNAI Women Health Initiative is joining to celebrate as its aspiration is to have women without cancer of the cervix in AE-FUNAI, Nigeria and the world over.


Dr. Uzoma Agwu Addressing AE-FUNAI Women

The Facilitator of the programme, Dr. Uzoma Agwu, an obstetrician and gynecologist at Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, (AE-FUTHA) and founder of Joyce John Foundation, which has special interest in preventive oncology, thanked Dr. Mrs. Chinyere Nwajiuba for the opportunity to enlighten and screen the women, stating that it was a thing of great joy for her as any dysplasia she discover in the process and treat, she would have saved one woman from cancer and death. She iterated that cervical cancer is the second most common gynecological cancer worldwide affecting women and advised that women should ensure they screen regularly as early detection of pre-cancerous cells could be treated.

Dr. Agwu revealed that the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) infection is the major cause of cervical cancer in women, and is usually contacted through sexual contact with the affected person. She urged women to desist from any behavior that would expose them to the virus and engage in exercises that would boost their immunity. According to her, there are usually pre-cancer signs before the cervix, which is the lower part of the uterus, becomes cancerous. She further informed her audience that regular screening is necessary to detect any dysplasia for treatment and by so doing, cervical cancer could be averted. She stated that other risk factors for cervical cancer are multiple sex partners, having male sex partner who has multiple sexual partners, early sex, personal history of dysplasia of the cervix, vagina or vulva, smoking, having sexually transmitted diseases, HIV/AIDS, and low immunity.


Dr. Mrs Nwajiuba, President, AE-FUNAI WA, members, participants in group photograph with Dr. Uzoma Agwu.

In her vote of thanks, Dr. Mrs. Chinyere Nwajiuba, thanked Dr. Agwu for screening the women and her contribution towards promoting healthcare in Nigeria. She further thanked the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Chinedum Nwajiuba and Management of the University for their Support in making the programme a success. Dr. Mrs Nwajiuba specially appreciated the Director, Department of Health Services, AE-FUNAI, Dr. Henry Aloh for assisting with the University Clinic’s examination couch and screening aid.

AE-FUNAI women unanimously expressed their happiness and gratitude to the organisers of the programme, especially for the opportunity to be screened free as they would have spent heavily to have the same screening in a private hospital. The women had good time as they carried out special parade and fitness exercise.


AE-FUNAI Women on Parade


The Women in a fitness exercise