The Cancer Control Centre for Research on Implementation Science and Excellence (C3-RISE) project, also known as 4 Communities by Communities (4CBYC), has called on Nigerian women to always go for human papillomavirus (HPV) screening and also undertake other preventive measures towards early detection and treatment of cervical cancer in the country.

The call came as Nigeria commemorates Cervical Cancer Awareness Month, imploring communities across the country to unite to confront one of the most preventable, yet deadly cancers affecting women.

One of the Principal Investigators to the C3RISE project, Prof. Juliet Iwelunmor, said technology and community action would go a long way in changing the cervical cancer narrative in Nigeria.

She explained that the group, in collaboration with the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR) and the Nigerian Cancer Society (NCS), and working with the Bethel Viva Foundation as well as Tenev Health Market Initiative, has provided 90 per cent shield for HPV Warrior.

She noted that in collaboration with NIMR, 4CBYC implements cancer prevention interventions in communities within the six geopolitical zones. For more awareness creation, she said 4CBYC organised the Angie Courage award, where the recipients narrated their stories and experiences about cervical cancer.

“The stories are meant to increase awareness about cervical cancer prevention through HPV vaccination and cervical cancer screening.”

Iwelunmor said that to save lives, the group has adopted awareness creation against cancer using community outreaches, radio programmes, churches, and schools to spread a simple truth: Cancer is not a curse; silence is the real killer.