This month, we are committed to spreading the message about Cervical Cancer!

We kicked off the awareness with our Prevention and Community Services directorate team, Dr. Oluseye Ajayi and Onyekachi Onumara educating listeners on the Armed Forces radio 107.7 Abuja, on preventing cervical cancer by taking the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine and the need for women to be screened regularly for cervical cancer. The awareness did not stop there as the HQ team also visited our adopted school, Government Secondary School Apo to educate young girls on prevention methods through the HPV Vaccine.

Our colleagues in Ondo, Plateau and Benue States were not left out of the push to create awareness this cervical cancer month.

In Ondo State, our team led by Dr Oyinlola Abitoye (Clinical Services Directorate) and Adijat Suraju (Prevention & Community Services lead), visited the University of Medical Sciences Teaching Hospital (UNIMEDTH) and Comprehensive Health Centre (CHC) Arakale to educate women in the facilities about the prevention of cervical cancer through the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine. They also discussed the importance of regular screening to quickly catch precancerous lesions and the treatment options available. A total of 12 women were screened.

APIN Plateau State made the News as Cervical Cancer program coordinator, Dr. Osayi Emmanuel and Dr. Onyeji John, Consultant of Obstetrics & Gynecology at Bingham University Teaching Hospital were at Unity FM-TV to discuss APIN’s support to cervical cancer programme in the State and why now more than ever, Women Living with HIV (WLHIV) must avail themselves of the free screening and treatment options available in the supported health facilities. Since the start of our support to Plateau State’s cervical cancer programme, APIN has trained 90+ healthcare workers across 24 health facilities in Plateau State to provide screening and treatment of precancerous lesions to more than 10,000 women between 15 and 49 years of age.

In Benue State, a radio session was held on Brothers FM 90.5 Makurdi where Dr Chisa Ugboaja (Department of Obstetric and Gynaecology- Federal Medical Center Makurdi) as well as Dr. Benedict Koko (Acting Lead APIN Benue Cervical Cancer Program) enlightened listeners across Benue on the causes, risk factors and prevention of Cervical Cancer.

APIN Benue also took the awareness campaign to the ART Clinic at Benue State University Teaching Hospital (BSUTH) Makurdi and NKST Hospital. APIN currently supports about 50 health facilities across Benue on the cervical cancer program, with the facilities offering services to women and girls.

See below for more pictures.