Peace Okonkwo calls for regular cervical screening for women

Bishop Peace Okonkwo
Co-founder The Redeem Evangelical Mission(TREM)

Resident pastor and wife to the founder of The Redeem Evangelical Mission (TREM), Bishop Peace Okonkwo on the occasion of her 65th birthday has called on women to take heed to their health status and reduce their risk for cervical cancer by going for regular screening.

Okonkwo made this call at a free medical mission organized as one of the activities lined up to celebrate her 65th birthday, to screen people for diabetes and hypertension by the Providing Early Attention for Cancer Everywhere Campaign Initiative.

She said, over 8,000 Nigerian women have benefited from the exercise which began five years ago while over 15,000 people have enjoyed free medical checkup and financial assistance prescribed by the doctors on the team.

Okonkwo's decision to sensitized and screen women to ensure early detection of the disease, was borne out of the fact that a large number of women were dying from a disease that was preventable and treatable.

“I was at a seminar and saw how Nigerian women were dying early because of cervical cancer. This is a disease that can be treated when detected early. It can also be prevented when girls are vaccinated.

“More awareness also needs to be created through medical programmes like this. So, women, especially those in rural areas, will be able to meet with experts and be screened and linked up for treatment,” she said.

Okonkwo described poverty as a major reason  many Nigerians are dying of treatable diseases.

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She, however, urged , well meaning Nigerians, corporate organisations, philanthropists, NGOs and other religious bodies to support health initiatives especially as the country is currently undergoing recession.

 “Health care cannot be a priority for someone who can only afford one meal a day in this recession. Nigerians are dying because of poverty and we must all rise to help. I know how much we have committed to this programme but one life saved is priceless.”

At the event, over 1,000 persons were screened..