By Lizzy Carr
The Medical Women Association of Nigeria (MWAN), Bauchi State Chapter, in partnership with the North-East Development Commission (NEDC), has taken free breast and cervical cancer screening to women and adolescent girls in Alkaleri Local Government Area of Bauchi State.
The large-scale outreach, held at the General Hospital Alkaleri, targeted at least 1,000 women of reproductive age as part of NEDC’s broader regional initiative to expand access to preventive healthcare across the North-East.
MWAN State President, Dr. Umma-Hanni Jafaru, described breast and cervical cancers as major public health threats, noting the increasing mortality among Nigerian women.
She identified late diagnosis, poor awareness, high treatment costs, and limited screening opportunities as key drivers of the alarming death rates.
“These cancers continue to claim lives because most women present late. This intervention is designed to bridge that gap by ensuring early detection,” she said.
Dr. Jafaru disclosed that Nigeria records about 12,000 new cervical cancer cases annually, with nearly 8,000 deaths, stressing the need for stronger action to meet the World Health Organisation’s 90-70-90 targets for screening, vaccination and treatment coverage.
She added that MWAN also conducts advocacy visits and health awareness campaigns to educate women and children on critical health issues affecting them.
Also speaking, NEDC Health Desk Officer, Mohammed Ali, said the Commission initiated the programme in response to rising cancer cases across the region. He reaffirmed NEDC’s commitment to strengthening women’s healthcare and emphasized that early detection remains key to survival.
President of the Nigeria Cancer Society, Bauchi State Chapter, Dr. Habiba Isma’il, expressed concern over the persistent trend of late presentation in health facilities. She urged women to perform monthly breast self-examinations and undergo regular Pap smear tests.
Dr. Isma’il also conducted a practical demonstration of breast self-examination and encouraged the women to educate their daughters, stressing the importance of reporting any abnormalities promptly. Follow wwwkrestnews.com for fresh reports.