In a powerful collaboration aimed at deepening awareness on cervical cancer prevention, Exquisite Magazine and BellaNaija have joined forces under the ongoing campaign #StopHPVForHer. The initiative shines a light on the importance of cervical cancer screening, HPV vaccination, and consistent education to save more lives.
As part of this collaboration, Dr. Tewa Onasanya, Founder of the EMAC Foundation, ELOY Awards Foundation and Exquisite Magazine, graces the cover of Exquisite Magazine Digital as the face of this campaign. In this special feature, she speaks passionately about her decade-long journey of advocacy, the challenges, the impact of her foundation’s work, and the hope she carries for a future free of cervical cancer.
Read the full story below, also available on www.exquisitemag.com and www.bellanaija.com.
Exquisite Magazine: You have been an advocate for cervical screening and cervical cancer prevention. Tell us about this journey and what inspired your commitment.
Tewa: Yes, I have been advocating for cervical cancer prevention and free screening since 2010, so, fifteen years now. The advocacy was inspired by the realisation that many people in Nigeria had little to no knowledge about cervical cancer, how preventable it is, how deadly it can be, and the fact that it kills one woman every hour.
It’s also a cancer that is 100% preventable, and I strongly believe that losing even one woman to something preventable is unacceptable. That’s why, as a women-focused magazine, we took it upon ourselves to raise awareness, educate, and empower women to take action toward prevention and early detection.
EM: In your advocacy work, what has been the biggest barrier to awareness or action?
Tewa: I would say the biggest barrier is cultural. Many women, especially in rural areas, feel uncomfortable letting anyone other than their husbands examine their bodies, let alone undergo a screening that involves accessing the cervix.
Another barrier is religious beliefs. Some people say, “God forbid, it can never happen to me,” which prevents them from taking preventive action. These cultural and religious mindsets, coupled with the lack of readily available information, make awareness and education difficult to spread widely.
EM: EMAC Foundation has become a recognisable movement for cervical cancer awareness. Can you share some of the impact made so far?
Tewa: Yes, EMAC (Exquisite Magazine Annual Cervical Cancer Prevention Initiative) has truly become a recognisable movement for cervical cancer prevention in Nigeria. Since 2010, our goal has been to screen at least 1,000 women annually and treat those who present with abnormal cervical cells.
Every January (Cervical Cancer Awareness Month), we provide free screenings. In 2017, we raised funds to provide free HPV vaccinations for children and young women. Over the years, with the support of our sponsors and partners, we have screened thousands of women in different parts of Nigeria, treated hundreds who present pre cancer cells, and vaccinated hundreds more.
We also launched the #SMEARIT campaign, a fun and approachable way to talk about screening and prevention. On our website, www.smearitafrica.com, women can find clinics across Nigeria that offer cervical cancer prevention services. Our Instagram page, @emac_cervicalcancerfoundation, continues to share education and updates to help women protect themselves and others.
EM: You’ve been a strong voice in BellaNaija’s #StopHPVForHer Campaign. What makes this campaign important to you?
Tewa: This campaign is very important to me because it amplifies our voice on a broader platform. It’s not just Exquisite Magazine speaking about cervical cancer prevention and the HPV vaccine, BellaNaija is on board too.
BellaNaija has always been a friend of the house, and this collaboration excites us because it strengthens the message. Together, we’re reaching even more people with a unified voice about the importance of HPV vaccination and regular screening.
EM: The campaign emphasizes collective action. How can individuals, media, and organisations come together to amplify this message?
Tewa: It’s really about persistence, never giving up and continuing to talk about cervical cancer prevention. People learn by repetition, so we must keep educating in ways that are relatable, not frightening.
When media organisations, NGOs, individuals (both women and men) unite to talk about prevention, awareness grows faster. At EMAC, we use the acronym TEAL which is the colour of cervical cancer prevention, which stands for Tell Every Awesome Lady about cervical cancer prevention.
If each of us tells the women in our circle, and they tell others, the ripple effect becomes powerful. It should be as normal to talk about getting screened as it is to talk about self-care or career growth.
EM: You’ve seen firsthand how awareness can save lives. What story remains with you as a reminder of why this work matters?
Tewa: One story that always stays with me is from our SMEARATHON events, where we offer free screenings. Many women who come have no symptoms at all, but some are found to have abnormal cervical cells.
That’s the thing about cervical cancer, it often shows no symptoms until it’s too late. Identifying those abnormal cells or pre cancer cells early means we can treat them before they become cancerous. Knowing that our work helps save lives like that makes every effort worthwhile. No woman should die every hour from a preventable disease.
EM: Looking ahead, what changes would you love to see in how Nigeria approaches HPV awareness and cervical cancer prevention?
Tewa: I’d love to see cervical cancer prevention treated as a national health priority. Every healthcare provider should actively educate patients, both women and men about screening and vaccination.
It should also be part of our laws and health policies: that women from a certain age should be screened regularly, and children should receive the HPV vaccine. I’m glad the government has started providing free HPV vaccines in some areas, but more needs to be done.
In countries like the UK, deaths have reduced because prevention is proactive and intentional. I hope to see that same level of commitment in Nigeria, where every healthcare center offers these services, and every woman understands how vital it is to protect herself and her daughters.
