The David Omenukor Foundation has launched its 2026 breast and cervical cancer awareness and early detection campaign, providing free mammogram screenings to about 22 underserved and vulnerable women in Mesquite, Texas.
The initiative, which commenced on Friday, September 4, was organised in partnership with Methodist Health System as part of efforts to promote early detection and prevention of breast and cervical cancer and remove financial barriers that often prevent women from accessing essential healthcare.
Held ahead of October’s cancer awareness month, the campaign featured an awareness road walk, expert health talks and free clinical screenings for participants.
Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Foundation, Dr. Keyna Omenukor, said the initiative was driven by a commitment to making healthcare accessible and affordable, particularly for women in underserved communities.
According to her, the campaign goes beyond routine screening, with its broader objective being to save lives, raise awareness and create pathways to preventive healthcare for vulnerable women.
“Our annual free breast and cervical cancer screenings are part of our commitment to provide accessible and affordable healthcare for women as well as educate the general public on the most common form of cancer affecting women,” Omenukor said.
She disclosed that the Foundation was established in 2015 in honour of her late husband, David Omenukor, who died after battling cancer.
Omenukor said her personal experience of losing her husband inspired the establishment of the organisation and strengthened her resolve to help prevent other families from suffering the consequences of delayed diagnosis.
“This foundation is for women and people in healthcare to get care. It was born in honour of my late husband. If cancer could happen to us, I wonder how other people are passing through it.
The foundation was created to encourage people to get screened,” she said.
Since its establishment, the Foundation has expanded its outreach programmes across Nigeria and internationally, screening thousands of people and providing support to individuals facing cancer-related health challenges.
Omenukor warned that cancer remains a serious and potentially deadly disease, particularly when detected at an advanced stage. She identified fear, stigma, financial hardship and inadequate awareness as some of the factors discouraging women from seeking timely medical attention.
“Cancer is an extraordinarily dangerous and ruthless disease; it does not wait, it does not negotiate, and it thrives on silence, fear, and delay,” she said.
“When caught late, cancer is a devastating sentence, but it does not have to be. Screening is the ultimate weapon because early detection turns a deadly threat into a preventable, treatable condition.”
Health experts participating in the outreach disclosed that the screenings had identified several cases of precancerous cervical conditions and breast lumps requiring immediate medical follow-up.
They stressed that such early discoveries provide opportunities for prompt medical intervention before the conditions progress into more aggressive and potentially life-threatening diseases.
One of the beneficiaries, whose family recently lost medical insurance following her husband’s job loss, said she was able to undergo a mammogram through a grant provided by the Foundation.
The woman, who has a strong family history of breast cancer after losing her mother to the disease following a delayed diagnosis, urged other women not to allow fear or financial constraints to prevent them from undergoing regular screening.
She encouraged women to prioritise mammograms and Pap smears, stressing that early detection can significantly improve the chances of successful treatment.
Medical experts at the event also advised women to conduct regular breast self-examinations, undergo clinical screenings and ensure that young girls receive Human Papillomavirus vaccination as part of efforts to prevent cervical cancer.
They further called on governments and healthcare providers to make cancer screening and treatment more affordable and accessible, particularly for women in underserved communities.
Speakers at the event expressed concern over the continued prevalence of late-stage cancer presentations, attributing the trend partly to stigma, fear and reluctance among women to discuss breast-related symptoms or seek medical attention.
Omenukor urged women not to allow embarrassment or fear to jeopardise their health, advising them to seek medical attention whenever they notice unusual changes, lumps or other warning signs.
“The rate at which women have breast cancer and then stay with it just because they are shy to go to a hospital is worrisome,” she said.
“This campaign is not just about awareness; it’s about saving lives. Cancer does not wait, and neither should we. I urge every woman to make regular screenings an absolute priority and pay immediate attention to their health before it is too late.”
The Foundation also stressed the importance of male involvement in the fight against breast cancer, urging men to familiarise themselves with warning signs and encourage women in their families and communities to undergo regular screening.
Organisers noted that breast cancer is not exclusively a women’s concern, as men can also develop the disease and have an important role to play in supporting women to seek timely medical care.
Looking beyond the current campaign, Omenukor said the Foundation is pursuing an ambitious humanitarian vision to establish a state-of-the-art cancer screening and treatment centre in Nigeria, where it has already acquired land for the project.
She called for stronger collaboration among the Federal Government, private-sector organisations, non-governmental organisations, healthcare institutions and diaspora groups to expand access to advanced cancer screening equipment and services.
According to her, mobile mammography units could provide a cost-effective solution for reaching women in remote and rural communities where access to specialised healthcare remains limited.
“We are welcoming government agencies and NGOs to collaborate with us. We must go beyond our foundation, and anyone can reach out to us through our website. We have a solid place where we can start, and the earlier we start, the more lives will be saved,” she said.
Despite security challenges affecting access to some rural communities in Imo State, the Foundation said it is also working to provide financial assistance for treatment and essential medical bills to ensure that patients are not abandoned after receiving a diagnosis.
The next phase of the international campaign is expected to take place at the Foundation’s Nigerian headquarters in Owerri, Imo State, where it plans to extend free cancer screening services to women facing geographical and financial barriers to healthcare.
Omenukor described the Texas outreach as only the beginning of a broader campaign against healthcare inequality, insisting that poverty should never determine whether an individual receives potentially life-saving cancer care.
“What we are doing today is just the tip of the iceberg,” she said, adding that millions of women in marginalised communities still lack access to basic preventive healthcare.
“Our goal is not merely to offer a one-time screening, but to build a compassionate, sustainable lifeline that reaches the most neglected corners of the world. We will not rest until quality, life-saving cancer care is accessible, affordable, and equitable for every single woman, everywhere.”
