Cervical cancer: Foundation screens 100 women in Kaduna

An NGO, Hope for the Village Child Foundation (HVCF), has screened no fewer than 100 women on cervical and breast cancers in Kaduna. this was disclosed by Head of Health Section of the foundation, Juliana Ekwoanya, said it was also an avenue for them to enlighten women on the need to know their bodies and embrace regular check-ups.

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Ekwoanya added that in recent times, women and young girls were being affected in large numbers by the two cancers. She, therefore, said after the screening, those found having signs or having any of the cancers would be referred to tertiary medical facilities for treatment. She said that the beneficiaries would pay N1,200 for the screening.

She explained that the cost of the cancer screening was 3,000, adding, ‘we subsidised it for the beneficiaries so as to cushion the effect of out-of-pocket medical spending.” Sensitising the women on cervical cancer, Rifkatu Samaila, a health personnel at Mega Hospital Unguwan Boro, Kaduna, said cancer of the cervix is the commonest cancer of the female genital tract.

Samaila said that the risk factors include early sexual exposure, multiple sexual partners and cigarette smoking, while treatment can be through surgery or radiotherapy in the early stage. She said that cancer of the cervix could be prevented through early detection by cervical smear (Pap smear) for cytology and direct visualisation of the cervix and biopsy of suspicious areas with its treatment.

The director urged women with the risk factors and all sexually active women including those with problems of recurrent vaginal discharge and bleeding following sexual intercourse to seek medical attention. Also sensitising the women on breast cancer, Alice Samuel, a Midwife, harped on the importance of having breasts by women.

Samuel, who doubles as the foundation’s Clinic Coordinator, said,  “A woman without breasts is like a half woman.” Stressing on the importance of breast to include lactation, sexual arousal and cosmetics purpose, Samuel said. ”When it is affected by cancer, it affects the whole person.”

She listed some of the signs of breast cancer to include sharp pains, lumps and discharge in non-lactating women.

Samuel said, ”Self-examination and constant observation of the breasts will enable women to know if there are lumps and other symptoms which should prompt them to go for diagnosis.”

She urged the women to always self-examine themselves for lumps in the breast after menstruating.“As a woman who has given birth before is not supposed to feel a lump in her breast, if she does, then that is a symptom and should not be taken for granted,”she said.

Some of the beneficiaries commended the foundation for subsidising the screenings. The beneficiaries of the screening were drawn from Maraban Rido, Kujama, Kasuwan Magani, Sabo, Narayi and Tudun Wada, among others.

NAN/Wumi