Foundation launches 2026 breast cancer campaign, gives free screenings to women

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, United States of America.

Speaking at the event organised in partnership with Methodist Health System, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Foundation, Dr. Keyna Omenukor, disclosed that the initiative was driven by a commitment to make healthcare accessible and affordable, particularly for women in underserved communities.

She  said 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.

Disclosing that the Foundation was established in 2015 in honour of her late husband, David Omenukor, who died after battling cancer, she stated that her personal experience of losing him inspired the establishment of the organisation and strengthened her resolve to help prevent other families from suffering the consequences of delayed diagnosis.

She warned that cancer remains a serious and potentially deadly disease, particularly when detected at an advanced stage, adding that “fear, stigma, financial hardship and inadequate awareness” are some of the factors discouraging women from seeking timely medical attention.

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, adding, “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”.

Speaking further, she said, “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.”

While urging 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, 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.”.

Dr Omenuko stressed that 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 and that there is the need 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,she said , “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”.

Describing the Texas outreach as only the beginning of a broader campaign against healthcare inequality, she insisted that poverty should never determine whether an individual receives potentially life-saving cancer care, saying, “What we are doing today is just the tip of the iceberg, millions of women in marginalised communities still lack access to basic preventive healthcare.

“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.

 “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.

“Cancer is an extraordinarily dangerous and ruthless disease; it does not wait, it does not negotiate, and it thrives on silence, fear, and delay. 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.

“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.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.

“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.”

Speakers at the event in their different remarks 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.