'All must join cervical cancer eradication campaign '

Hajia Hanatu Abubakar, Founder and President of the Al- Hayaat Foundation, has called on all and sundry to join the campaign to eradicate cervical cancer.

She urged women in particular to join the campaign of eliminating cervical cancer in the country, by creating more awareness among themselves on the need for regular screening.

Citing statistics from the World Health Organisation, she observed that about 400,000 women were diagnosed of cervical cancer across the world, yearly, however, about 275,000 women died, whereas 80 per cent of these death cases were recorded in developing countries including Ghana.

Hajia Abubakar who made these remarks in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) during a health seminar programme at the Islamic University College, Ghana, said due to this there was the need to create much awareness for women to undergo regular check-ups.

“It is only when they go for screening that early abnormalities can be detected,” she stated.

The Founder further noted that cervical cancer took time to develop, likely from 10 to 20 years, and so, if students in their youthful days were given the education on the cancer awareness programme now, they would serve as ambassadors to educate others and as well send the messages across.

Hajia Abubakar told GNA that at the end of the awareness creation programme, she expected to see a large number of women, especially the youth, involving themselves in screening exercises; as a preventive measure, and as part of efforts to kick out cervical cancer out of Ghana.

The seminar which registered about 200 participants, was an initiative organized by the Al Hayyat Foundation, and supported by the Women Affairs Committee of the Islamic University College, Ghana and the Iran Clinic, on the theme: “Women’s Health: A Catalyst for a Healthy Society”

Cervical Cancer is cancer of the entrance to the uterus (womb). It occurs when abnormal cells on the cervix grow out of control, and this occurs most commonly in women over 30 years of age.

It is mostly caused by a virus called Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) which can easily be acquired by having sexual contact with an infected person, it can also be successfully treated when detected early.

Symptoms include pain during sexual intercourse, pelvic pain, heavy vaginal discharge, continuous bleeding after menopause and abnormal vaginal bleeding including bleeding after sex.

Cervical cancer can be prevented through; avoiding multiple sexual partners to avoid HPV infection, avoid smoking, getting screened for detection of early abnormalities by going for a Visual Inspection with Acetic Acid (VIA) test and a PAP test, as well as making a follow up (if necessary) and repeating test after three years.