The Katsina State Government has launched a one-stop cervical cancer programme designed to improve early detection, diagnosis and treatment of the disease, bringing multiple services under one roof in a bid to reduce one of Nigeria’s leading causes of cancer-related deaths among women.
The initiative, known as the One-Stop Katsina Cervical Cancer Screening Initiative, was unveiled in collaboration with the Office of the First Lady of Katsina State, the Federal Teaching Hospital Katsina and international researchers led by Professor Sophia George.
Speaking at the launch, the First Lady of Katsina State, Zulaihat Dikko Umaru Radda, said the pilot phase would provide free cervical cancer screening for 500 eligible women, while those diagnosed with pre-cancerous lesions would receive fully sponsored treatment at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Katsina.
She said the programme was developed through a research collaboration involving Professor Sophia Hilary George, Dr. Fatima Abubakar Rasheed and the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, describing it as the result of sustained investment in scientific research and international partnerships.
Mrs. Radda commended the Medical Women’s Association of Nigeria for its contributions to women’s healthcare and reaffirmed her commitment to cancer prevention through her membership of First Ladies Against Cancer.
She urged women across the state to take advantage of the free screening programme and appealed to families, religious leaders and traditional rulers to support the campaign, expressing confidence that the initiative would strengthen healthcare collaboration between Katsina State and the University of Miami.
Presenting an overview of the programme, consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist, Dr. Fatima Rasheed, described the initiative as both a professional mission and a deeply personal commitment.
“To me, this is much more than research or screening women. It is personal because I have seen women lose their lives in the prime of their lives, leaving behind children, families and communities that depend on them,” she said.
She explained that the programme was inspired by knowledge and partnerships developed during her academic training abroad and was designed to ensure that no woman dies from cervical cancer.
According to her, cervical cancer remains one of the few cancers whose causes, progression and treatment are well understood, yet thousands of women continue to die because access to screening and timely treatment remains inadequate.
“Cervical cancer is one of the few cancers whose causes, progression and treatment are well understood. The challenge is that we are not doing enough, and we need innovative approaches to change the story,” she said.
Dr. Rasheed noted that the programme replaces the conventional healthcare system, where women move between multiple facilities for screening, laboratory testing and treatment, with a single coordinated service that delivers all stages of care in one location.
“The healthcare system should be designed around the woman instead of asking the woman to navigate the healthcare system,” she added.
Under the pilot programme, women will receive HPV DNA testing, Pap smear screening, immediate pathology review and prompt treatment for pre-cancerous lesions at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Katsina.
The initiative will also conduct extensive research into the strains of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) circulating among Nigerian women to generate local scientific evidence capable of improving vaccination policies and treatment strategies.
Dr. Rasheed disclosed that preliminary findings by her research team had revealed unexpected HPV strains among Nigerian women, underscoring the need for more local research.
She also announced plans to introduce digital microscopy technology capable of delivering near-instant Pap smear results, replacing waiting periods that currently stretch to several weeks.
According to her, delayed laboratory results discourage many women from returning for treatment, particularly those living in remote communities or areas affected by insecurity.
“If successful, Katsina will make history. The findings will not only benefit Nigeria but could also be expanded to other countries across sub-Saharan Africa and the Caribbean,” she said.
The pilot phase will include community mobilisation, health education, registration, blood sample collection, cervical cancer screening, immediate evaluation of samples by consultant pathologists and treatment for eligible patients.
