37k screen for cervical cancer in two months

Charity Chikara, Sunday News Reporter
NEARLY 37 000 women were screened for cervical cancer in the first two months of the year, as the country continues to make inroads in prioritising the health of women and eliminate cancer.

According to statistics availed by the Reproductive Health Unit in the Ministry of Health and Child Care, a total of 36 972 women turned up for cervical cancer screening nationwide in January and February.

In January, 19 427 women were screened while 17 545 were screened in February 2022.

Speaking in an interview with Sunday News, the deputy director in Ministry of Health and Child Care Reproductive Health Unit, Dr Lucia Gondongwe, said that a sharp rise in cancer screening statistics was noticed from 2013 and drastically dropped in 2020 due to the advent of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“We benchmark our performance on the number of women being screened, which was on the increase until we got to 2020 when Covid-19 attacked the world.

The provision of cervical cancer services at facilities was abruptly affected as all cancer clinics were closed during the first days.

When the Ministry of Health and Child Care realised this, eventuality all facilities were encouraged to resume all essential services.

Women were also shunning going for screening and treatment because hospitals were being viewed as risk areas in regard with contacting the virus,” she said.

Statistics from the reproductive health department showed that a total of 1 795 947 women have been screened for cervical cancer since 2013 and a recovery rate of over 84 percent by 2021 from 49 percent in 2013.

Dr Gondongwe said most women screened were treated instantly, some referred for further management.

“The total number of people screened are people who accessed the Visual Inspection with Acetic Acid and Cervicography (VIAC), a method used to screen for cervical cancer.

Women who are tested positive and eligible for treatment are referred to tertiary institutions where more tests are done and where they receive proper treatment,” she said.