… Poses for 50 Free Cervical Cancer Screenings
… Early stage, not symptomatic – Dr Nzeribe
… Every Advocate Saves Lives – Imo Commissioner
The Imo State University auditorium was filled to capacity by staff and students from virtually all the tertiary institutions in the State on Thursday January 15, 2026 during a one-day workshop on Cervical Cancer organized by Hearts & Roses Cancer Advocacy Foundation, in collaboration with Imo State Ministry of Tertiary and Technical Education and the Nigeria Cancer Society, Imo State Branch.
The workshop, with the theme “Let’s end Cervical Cancer” had the Honourable Commissioner, Ministry of Tertiary and Technical Education, Professor Victor Nwachukwu, delivered the Keynote address and the Medical Director, Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Okigwe, Dr. Emily as the keynote lecturer. The Vice Chancellor, Kingsley Ozumba Mbadiwe University Ideato, Professor Ikechukwu N. S. Dozie was also present at the workshop. Rev. Fr. Innocent Maduwuba (CSSP)
The workshop convener who doubles as the Founder/CEO Hearts & Roses Cancer Advocacy Foundation, Dr. Chinomso Patricia Dozie, in her address, said the workshop was designed to “empower, educate and support one another in the fight against cervical cancer, maintaining that “it is also one of the most preventable and treatable forms of cancer, making awareness and education crucial to saving life. She also announced the offering of free Cervical Cancer screening exercise for 50 eligible and interested participants from January 19 to 25, at the Federal University Teaching Hospital Owerri.
The Honourable Commissioner for Tertiary and Technical Education, Prof. Victor Nwachukwu, in his keynote address brought “greetings from the Government and people of Imo State, under the purposeful leadership of His Excellency, Distinguished Senator Hope Odidika Uzodimma CON, whose administration remains unwavering to human capital development and public health awareness”. He urged participants to ensure the workshop goes beyond discussion to action, insisting that “every informed person becomes an advocate and every advocate saves lives”. He further declared the workshop open after his address.
The day’s lecturer, Dr. Emily Nzeribe, in her interactive lecture, informed that cervical cancer is a preventable and treatable disease if detected early and therefore maintained that ending cervical cancer requires awareness, vaccination, screening, and treatment.
According to Dr. Nzeribe, : In Nigeria, an estimated 12,075 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer each year and about 7,968 die from the disease every year, making it the second most common cancer among women in Nigeria and second most frequent cancer among women aged 15–44. She said, over 90% of cervical cancer diseases are caused by a persistent Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infection. The virus is transmitted through skin-to-skin contact in the genital area.
She therefore urged girls and women to engage in regular cervical screening with Pap and HPV tests for early detection because the early stages of the infection do not show symptoms. She also advised on HPV vaccination which prevents infection with high-risk HPV types for all.
The Vice Chancellors of Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO), University of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences (UAES) Umuagwo, Imo State University (IMSU) Owerri and University of Innovation Science and Technology Omuma (UISTO), were represented. Also represented are the Rector of Federal Polytechnic Nekede (PolyNek), and the Provosts of Federal College of Land Resources Technology (FECOLART) and Benjamin Uwajomugo College of Education, Ihitte Uboma.
