OWERRI — In a major stride toward reducing cancer mortality in South-East Nigeria, the David Omenukor Foundation has successfully provided free colorectal cancer screenings to over 1,000 residents. The large-scale medical intervention, held in Owerri, was the flagship event for the 2026 Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month.
The campaign, themed “Blue Hat & Bow Tie,” transformed the Golden Vista Hotel into a hub for preventive healthcare, drawing participants from across Imo State for clinical screenings, diagnostic registrations, and life-saving health education.
The First Lady of Imo State, Her Excellency Barr. Chioma Uzodimma, lauded the foundation's dedication to early detection. Represented by the Honourable Commissioner for Health, Dr. Chioma Vivian Egu, the First Lady described the initiative as a vital component of the state's broader health security agenda.
"Early detection remains our most potent weapon against cancer," the First Lady noted. "Through platforms like the Good Hope Women Flourish Initiative and First Ladies Against Cancer (FLAC), we are committed to breaking the silence and stigma that often lead to late-stage diagnoses."
Dr. Egu urged the public to remain vigilant for "red flag" symptoms, including persistent changes in bowel habits, blood in stool, chronic abdominal discomfort, and unexplained fatigue.
Medical experts at the event raised the alarm over the shifting demographics of the disease. Dr. Christopher Ekwunife, a consultant at the Federal University Teaching Hospital Owerri (FUTHO), highlighted a worrying trend of colorectal cancer affecting younger populations in developing countries.
"At an early stage, this disease is easier to treat, less expensive to manage, and carries fewer long-term consequences," Dr. Ekwunife explained. "The deaths we are seeing are largely preventable if detected through the kind of routine screening we are providing here today."
For the Founder and CEO of the Foundation, Dr. Keyna Omenukor, the mission is deeply personal. Having established the foundation in 2014 following the loss of her husband, David Omenukor, to the disease, she has dedicated over a decade to ensuring other families do not suffer a similar fate.
In her welcome address, Dr. Omenukor stressed that "proactive health ownership" is the only way to reverse current mortality trends. She encouraged Nigerians to embrace open conversations about colon health to demystify the screening process.
The 2026 intervention saw a robust coalition of partners, including: The Nigerian Cancer Society (NCS). The Global Colon Cancer Association, Lifeway Diagnostic Centre & All Med Diagnostic Centre (Providing onsite technical support)
Prof. Victor Nwachukwu, Commissioner for Tertiary and Technical Education, pledged to take the "Blue Hat & Bow Tie" message to the state’s higher institutions. He emphasized that students and young adults are critical stakeholders in disseminating health information to their parents and local communities.
The screening exercise was managed by a dedicated team of medical volunteers led by Dr. Rita Ukeredi, whose professionalism was singled out for praise by the foundation's leadership. Other key contributors included Dr. Ijeoma Dozie, Prof. Rev. Sr. Evangeline Oparaocha, and the Imo State Chairman of the NCS, Dr. Okechukwu Duru.
As the 2026 Awareness Month draws to a close, stakeholders have issued a collective call to action for the government to expand cancer funding and for private organizations to invest in diagnostic infrastructure across the federation.