In August and September 2025, Chronic Disease Mate Africa (CDMA) took an important step toward improving access to preventive health services by implementing community engagement, awareness, and integrated screening activities focused on cervical cancer and hepatitis B in Edo State.

The outreach was designed to meet people where they live and work, providing health education alongside screening services. Through these activities, approximately 300 community members were reached with information on cervical cancer prevention, hepatitis B transmission, early detection, and available health services.

Why integrated outreach matters

Many communities face barriers to preventive care, including limited awareness, cost concerns, and distance from health facilities. By combining cervical cancer awareness with hepatitis B education and screening opportunities, the outreach created a more convenient and acceptable entry point for community members to access care.

Participants received practical information on:

• The importance of cervical cancer screening
• Human papillomavirus (HPV) and cervical cancer prevention
• Hepatitis B transmission and prevention
• The value of early detection and timely treatment
• Healthy lifestyle practices that reduce chronic disease risk

Listening to the community

Beyond service delivery, the outreach created an opportunity for meaningful dialogue with community members. CDMA gathered community insights on knowledge gaps, perceptions, barriers to screening, and preferred approaches for future health programs.

These insights were not simply documented; they were used to inform subsequent project design and implementation. Understanding community realities helped shape later activities, including health-worker training, service delivery planning, and efforts to strengthen routine screening services.

Building trust through engagement

Community health programs are most effective when they are built on trust. The outreach encouraged open conversations about women’s health, hepatitis B, and preventive care, helping to reduce stigma and promote informed health-seeking behavior.

The experience reinforced an important lesson: sustainable health improvement begins with community engagement. By combining education, screening, and active listening, CDMA laid the foundation for stronger cervical cancer prevention efforts in Edo State.

As the organization continues its work, the voices and experiences of community members remain central to the design of responsive and people-centered health interventions.

Chronic Disease Mate Africa remains committed to expanding access to preventive health services and strengthening community action against chronic diseases across Africa.