Published: February 6, 2026
MONROVIA — The John F. Kennedy Memorial Medical Center has taken its cervical cancer prevention campaign directly to women in Monrovia’s busiest markets, screening 262 women during a two-day free outreach held as part of activities marking 2026 Global Cervical Cancer Awareness Month.
The outreach was conducted Wednesday, Feb. 4, at Rally Town Market and Thursday, Feb. 5, at Omega Market, drawing women who voluntarily accessed the free services. A total of 114 women were screened at Rally Town, while 148 were screened at Omega Market.
This year’s observance is under the national theme, “Vaccinate, Screen, and Treat — End Cervical Cancer Now.” Professional medical practitioners from JFK carried out the screenings using high-performance testing methods, streamlining early detection, diagnosis and treatment of precancerous conditions at no cost to beneficiaries.
Providing an overview of the month’s significance, Dr. Deaze M. Saywon, head of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at JFK, said expanding public awareness, strengthening health literacy, and promoting early diagnosis and treatment are essential to sharply reducing cervical cancer incidence and mortality in Liberia.
Dr. Saywon praised the Ministry of Health for its support, noting that the outreach reflects JFK’s commitment to taking healthcare to the people. While the hospital serves as the country’s largest tertiary referral facility, he said, it remains focused on bringing care closer to communities most in need.
He also commended Health Minister Dr. Louise M. Kpoto for facilitating the timely provision of advanced medical equipment to the hospital, including video colposcopy machines with stands, monitors and high-definition cameras, as well as a complete upper and lower gastrointestinal endoscopy tower equipped with modern cameras and scopes. The additions, he said, will strengthen diagnostic and therapeutic services and improve patient outcomes.
Gratitude was extended to partners, including the Women Global Cancer Initiative and CapaCare, whose support contributed to the success of the outreach.
“This is an initiative worth undertaking by the country’s biggest referral hospital,” Dr. Saywon said, urging women nationwide to seek routine screening at JFK and to pursue early treatment when needed.
In separate interviews, beneficiaries expressed appreciation to the Ministry of Health, JFK and partners for bringing services directly to the market. Several appealed to hospital administrators to consider making the outreach a biannual activity to reach more women across the country.
Cervical cancer develops in the cervix—the lower part of the uterus—when abnormal cells undergo DNA changes and grow uncontrollably. It is primarily caused by persistent infection with high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV), transmitted through sexual contact. The disease is highly preventable through HPV vaccination and regular screening and is often curable when detected early.
Activities marking Global Cervical Cancer Awareness Month will culminate Friday, Feb. 6, with a sports and awareness walk from Monrovia City Hall to the John F. Kennedy Memorial Medical Center.
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