Health workers have been charged to champion the crusade against cervical cancer to reduce the risk in women.
“It should not only be about talking and counselling, but also encouraging women in particular to do the screening and/or get vaccinated,” Ms. Anita Obeng Andoh, Public Health Specialist at Holy Child Family Hospital, has said.
She was speaking at World Cervical Cancer-awareness Month at Fijai, a suburb within Sekondi-Takoradi, on the theme ‘Capacitating today’s women as an instrument in combatting Cervical Cancer’.
“During this month of screening, which attracted a lot of women within the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis, 30 percent of 1,000 women screened had precancerous lesions (exposed to cancer),” she said.
The screening, according to Ms. Andoh, also found that a portion of the same women carried inflammation of the cervix, mass or growth in the uterus and leukoplakia – which are health-threatening conditions in women.
She therefore encouraged women to voluntarily go for cervical cancer screening for early detection and prevention of death.
She pointed out that the hospital, since starting the Cervical Cancer project few years ago, has worked on over 3,000 patients to learn their status, get them vaccinated and also put them on treatment.
Dr. Barbara Fenyi, Medical Superintendent at the Holy Child Family Hospital, said sexually risky behaviour such as douching is one of the risk factors associated with cervical cancer.
She expressed worry about anal sex, which is becoming a public health issue; adding, “Having sex backdoor increases the risk of cancers”.
She emphasised the need for women to get screened or vaccinated for cervical cancer.
Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah, Western Regional Minister, said the need to strengthen community systems and efforts to eliminate the disease is in line with World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Ghana Beyond Aid agenda.
He encouraged more women to get involved in screening, and advised men to always lend their support.
Reverend Father Francis Aidoo, Western Regional Director of Catholic Health Services, pledged the church’s commitment in contributing to quality health management systems to save lives and restore hope to the people.
