The Official Flag-Off of the Cervical Cancer Screening Programme in Owerri, Imo State on April 29th, 2026, under the Partnership for Cervical Cancer Elimination in Nigeria (PECCIN), signals the beginning of a new era of hope and decisive action for the broader cause of women’s health across Nigeria, especially in our dear State, Imo. Cervical cancer remains one of the gravest threats to the health and lives of Nigerian women, often diagnosed at advanced stages when the options for treatment are fewer and the chances of survival are greatly diminished. The urgency of this programme cannot be overstated, as it will expand access to quality cervical cancer screening, promote early detection and awareness, strengthen referral pathways for diagnosis and treatment, and build lasting local capacity within our health system. Women across selected facilities and communities in Imo State will benefit directly from the first phase of implementation, as we lay a firm foundation for broader reach and sustained impact. I acknowledge all who made this possible: the Federal Ministry of Health, the National Task Force for Cervical Cancer Elimination, and all partners to this cause. Special thanks to the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Her Excellency Senator Oluremi Tinubu, CON, for leading the action against cervical cancer in Nigeria through her ₦1 billion donation to the National Cancer Fund. I also acknowledge the partnerships of the Imo State Government, led by my husband, His Excellency Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma, CON, for placing women’s health at the heart of governance. Through our collective efforts, we will make cervical cancer a disease of the past. No woman in Nigeria should die from cervical cancer, a disease that is entirely preventable and curable when detected early.

#CervicalCancerAwareness #HPVVaccination #PECCIN #FirstLadiesAgainstCancer

#ChiomaUzodimma

Barr. Chioma Uzodimma, FIMC, CMC
First Lady of Imo State,
GoodHope Women Flourish Initiative,
Secretary, Renewed Hope Initiative and
Chairperson, First Ladies Against Cancer