Obstetrician gynaecologist at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital expressed
worry about the high prevalence of cervical cancer and how it remains
the leading cause of death in women in the Ghana.
According to him the numerous cases of cervical cancer is alarming and
there is the need to create awareness nationwide to reduce mortality in
that area.
Cervical cancer is a cancer that occurs in the cervix. It is due to the
abnormal growth of cells that have the ability to invade or spread to
other parts of the body. Typically no symptoms are seen at the early
stages of the disease. Later symptoms may include abnormal vaginal
bleeding, pelvic pain, or pain during sexual intercourse.
A lot of women die of cervical cancer due to late detection. It is
reported that in every five hours at least one woman dies of cervical
cancer.
Speaking at the launch of world cervical cancer day, Dr. Kwaku
Ansah-Opoku indicated that one of the reasons for the high death is that
victims fail to report and fail to do routine checkups.
“Cervical cancer continues to be the leading cancer when it comes to
gynaecology in this country. Close to about more than half of them who
come with cervical cancer eventually die because most of them present
very late and that is a worrying trend.”
He added that even though cervical cancer is preventable, people in the
rural areas are left out on cervical cancer due to lack of education.
He called on government to come up with a project that seeks to help broaden the education on cervical cancer.
He also suggested government could add cervical cancer screening to the
NHIS to help curb cervical cancer since a lot of women may not be able
to afford the cost of screening. Cervical cancer is caused by a virus
called human papillomavirus. The people at risk are mostly people who
started having sex very early and with people who have multiple sexual
partners.
He advised since cervical cancer is preventable, routine screening
exercise with pap smear gives a higher chance of detecting it early to
avoid death.
This year’s world cervical day is marked by providing discount on Pap
smear test at the korle bu hospital for ghc80 instead of ghc150.
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