By Bianca Iboma & Favour Gurah Ibadan
Concerned about the rising cases of cervical cancer among Nigerian women, chief executive officer of Exquisite Magazine, Mrs. Tewa Onasanya, has enjoined Nigerian women to embraced regular cervical screening to ensure prompt treatment of the life threatening condition.
She made the call during the Exquisite Magazine Cancer Care Foundation (EMAC) cervical cancer walk/free screening exercise for 500 women, with support from Access Bank Women Network, at Muri Okunola Street, Victoria Island, Lagos:
“It is estimated that over 100,00 new cases are discovered every year in Nigeria and with lack of adequate cancer screening and treatment centres, majority of women struck with the scourge die miserably, in pains and agony.”
She explained that if women took advantage of routine screening, most of the cervical cancers cases could be detected early and prompt treatment could help the situation and even save the lives of affected women:
“We are here in partnership with the Access Bank Women Network to screen 500 women present. The essence of the walk against cervix cancer and screening exercise is to create and promote cervical cancer awareness among women including the rural dwellers. In terms of screening, it is an opportunity for women to get screen at no cost and follow them up if there are abnormalities.”
Onasanya maintained that cervical cancer is the easiest cancer to prevent through periodic screening with up to 75 percent accuracy: “It takes between 10 and 15 years for one cancer cell on the neck of the cervix to develop. This window period is when medical practitioners capitalse on to pick women and treat them.
“It is only when the cells are allowed to grow fully, that it becomes cancer. The only option then is to treat it through surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy, which all comes with its various challenges.
“Cervical cancer is caused by the HPV and out of every four women, three will be infected.
“To lower cervical cancer risk women to reduce the number of sex partners and avoid smoking as it increases the potential of cells to become cancerous.
Finance Director, Access Bank Women Network, Mrs. Chidi Chuwkudi-Madu, said the programme was organised for women as part of the Corporate Responsibility Service (CRS) in the bank they are concerned with total development of women and their welfare: “This screening is purposely to screen women for signs and symptoms of cervical cancer before it manifests in their system.”
She said they would extend the screening to other growp of women in the rural community. She urged those at the event to avail themselves for the medical screening facilities at their doorstep.
She noted that although the knowledge of cervical cancer was extremely low among the beneficiaries, after the lectures, which usually precede the screening, it increased the level of awareness among the women.