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By Doris Obinna
Cancer Control Centre for Research on Implementation Science and Excellence (C3-RISE), aka 4 Communities by Communities (4CBYC), has called on women to prioritise cervical cancer screening and HPV vaccination. Early detection, the center says, is key to saving lives.
Speaking, a Principal Investigator with C3-RISE, Prof. Juliet Iwelunmor, highlighted the role of technology and community engagement in changing how cervical cancer is perceived and addressed in Nigeria. “Cancer is not a curse; silence is the real killer,” she said, stressing that education and awareness can combat myths and stigma surrounding the disease.
The initiative has partnered with the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR), the Nigerian Cancer Society (NCS), the Bethel Viva Foundation, and the Tenev Health Market Initiative to promote prevention across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones. Through these collaborations, the program has helped provide protection against high-risk HPV strains for thousands of women.
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In addition to screenings and vaccination campaigns, 4CBYC has launched the Angie Courage Award, where cervical cancer survivors share their stories to inspire awareness and action. “Storytelling, youth engagement, and technology are powerful tools to reduce stigma and encourage preventive measures,” Iwelunmor said.
“In a pilot program in Lagos State, adolescent girls participated in educational games about HPV and learned that the vaccine offers up to 90 per cent protection against high-risk strains.” The initiative has also conducted discussions in schools, churches, mosques, and markets, linking education directly to vaccination and screening services.
“With over 60 per cent of Nigeria’s population under 25, the program leverages youth-led, AI-personalized narratives to show how misinformation, poverty, and silence increase cancer risk and how knowledge can save lives. Survivor voices replace fear with facts, while community outreach ensures access to prevention.
“This Cervical Cancer Awareness month, Nigerians are learning through lived experiences, educational games, and community programs that cervical cancer is preventable, HPV vaccination is effective, and silence must end.”
