Free Cancer Screening: COOUTH Overwhelmed by Record Turnout, Continues Monday

People awaiting for free cancer screening at COOUTH Amaku, Awka

More than 2,000 people were screened for cervical cancer through Pap smear tests, breast cancer through mammography, and prostate cancer for men by the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital (COOUTH), Amaku, Awka, during a five-day free cancer screening programme organised by the institution.

However, hundreds of people who turned out for the exercise could not be screened due to time and overwhelming number of participants.

Hospital authorities stated that those who registered but were not attended to would be screened on Monday.
The Chief Medical Director of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital (COOUTH), Amaku, Awka, Dr. Maureen Uche Umeakuewulu, said it organised the free screening programme to commemorate the birthdays of Anambra State Governor, Prof. Charles Soludo, who turned 66 on Monday, July 27, 2026, and his wife, Mrs. Nonye Soludo, who marked her 56th birthday on Friday, July 31, 2026.
Our reporter, who visited the screening centres early on Friday, observed that large crowds of people struggled to complete their registration for the screening exercise.
It was further observed that members of staff were overwhelmed by the massive turnout of participants.
When our reporter returned to the hospital at about 5:00 p.m., many people were still waiting to be registered and screened. It was further gathered that the machines and staff were overwhelmed by turn out.
Following the overwhelming turnout, the Chief Medical Director of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital (COOUTH), Amaku, Awka, Dr. Maureen Uche Umeakuewulu, expressed delight at the impressive response to the programme and announced that the screening would be extended to Monday for those who had already registered but could not be attended to on Friday.
She said, “We will continue the screening exercise on Monday, but it will only be for those who were here on Friday and registered but could not be screened. The extension is strictly for those who came today, Friday.”
According to her, the large turnout had disproved the notion that men do not make time to pay attention to their health or go for routine medical check-ups.
She added that the impressive response also highlighted the fact that the cost of medical tests remains one of the greatest barriers preventing many people from seeking regular health screening and accessing hospital services.