Program Initiatives 

Yemanja Cancer Awareness Programs and Care Initiatives

Education and Outreach

Lack of health awareness and education has been identified as some of the main factors leading to increased mortality from breast cancer and cervical cancer. Yemanja Cancer Care Initiative is therefore working with local health care providers, faith-based organizations, and community leaders to increase awareness about breast cancer and cervical cancer. 

We provide culturally appropriate messages about the importance of early detection and prevention to reduce mortality from these diseases in Nigeria. Our initial efforts are focused on the Remo North Local Government Area (LGA) of Ogun State, Nigeria. 

Capacity Development 

Yemanja is providing access to training and educational opportunities to local nurses and community health extension workers to build capacity for screening and early detection of breast and cervical cancer. 

Our organization partnered with Project ECHO (Extension of Community Healthcare Outcomes), a program pioneered by the University of New Mexico to provide shared solutions for preventive education and knowledge for early diagnosis and treatment of cancers in underserved areas of Nigeria.

Cancer Screening and Early Detection

We provide safe, effective, and free cervical cancer screening and treatment of pre-cancerous lesions in Remo North Local Government in Ogun State. It also comes with clinical breast examinations while teaching women how to conduct self-breast examinations regularly.

Our team is working with the community and local health care providers to improve knowledge of the diseases and the need to undergo screening for cervical pre-cancer. We collaborate with existing health clinics in our efforts to reach all the women in the community. Our goal is to screen 80% of eligible women in the local government area within 3 years.

HPV Vaccination Advocacy

Vaccination of girls between the ages of 9 and 14 years is known to be effective yet only a small proportion of girls in Nigeria have been vaccinated against this highly preventable cancer. There are several barriers to increasing vaccination rates for the HPV vaccine in Nigeria, and they include lack of access due to cost and lack of awareness.  

Yemanja Cancer Care Initiative, in partnership with a local academic group, is advocating for HPV vaccination to contribute to the WHO goals for eradication of cervical cancer.