Diagnosis first.
RADFIRST (Radiography Awareness and Diagnosis First) is a youth-led health advocacy initiative working to make early diagnosis easier to reach. We raise awareness of diagnostic scans, support access to affordable services, and connect communities to the right care.
The gap between knowing and getting diagnosed.
People hear about diseases and the importance of healthcare, and still delay getting checked. Fear of procedures, misinformation, cost, cultural beliefs and not knowing where to go all stand in the way.
Our founder, Zainab Olamide Saba, saw this first-hand as a radiography student at Lagos State University College of Medicine. Too many patients arrived after their condition had already progressed. That shifted her focus from treating illness to asking how people could be encouraged to come earlier.
RADFIRST launched in October 2025 in Lagos State. It started with radiology literacy: videos, infographics, webinars and community education that made imaging easier to understand. It then moved toward affordable access through partnerships, and toward referral and patient navigation.
What RADFIRST works to do
- Increase awareness of essential diagnostic scans.
- Promote a culture of preventive healthcare and early diagnosis.
- Improve access to essential diagnostic services through community projects and collaborations.
- Educate young people and communities through school, youth and faith-based outreach.
- Bring screening opportunities closer to underserved communities.
- Partner with diagnostic centres and other stakeholders to make diagnostic services more affordable.
A future where early diagnosis is accessible to everyone, and people are empowered to make informed, preventive health decisions.
Over time, we want RADFIRST to grow into a national and then pan-African early-detection ecosystem, working toward a continent where people do not die from conditions that could have been detected early.
What guides the work.
Early action
Encouraging people to act before preventable conditions become more serious.
Accessibility
Making health information and diagnostic opportunities easier to reach.
Health literacy
Making complex medical information understandable.
Equity
Reducing the financial and informational barriers to care.
Youth leadership
Young people as active health advocates and changemakers.
Collaboration
Working with health professionals, communities, institutions, sponsors and partners.
Integrity & evidence
Health information that is accurate, responsible and evidence-informed.
Compassion
Keeping the real experiences of patients and communities at the centre.
Year one.
From a radiography student’s idea to a growing early-diagnosis model.
- Oct 2025
RADFIRST launches in Lagos State
A youth-led initiative focused on radiology literacy and diagnostic awareness.
- Oct 2025
First breast-health webinar
“The Role of Mammography in Breast Cancer” with Harriet Nwogo, Senior Radiographer and Mammographer, HSE Ireland. Run as a Millennium Fellowship project.
- Nov 2025
First diagnostic-access partnership
For World Radiography Day, a partner diagnostic centre offered 30% off scans, lab tests and wellness screenings for a month.
- 2025–26
One million people reached online
Our educational content passed 1M cumulative reach, with one video reaching 180,000+ views.
- May 2026
Ashoka Young Changemaker
Zainab Saba elected to the Ashoka Young Changemakers community.
- 2026
RADFIRST Health Connect
Our webinar series becomes a named monthly programme, starting with youth health myths.
Where we’re heading.
- Develop the Emergency Diagnostic Support Fund
- Strengthen diagnosis-to-treatment referral pathways
- Launch the RADFIRST Youth Fellowship and Ambassador Programme
- Build relationships with public-health institutions and government