Cervical cancer drive screens 900 women at Oshikuku
Nine hundred women were screened for cervical cancer at St. Martin Hospital in Oshikuku, and approximately 100 with positive results have received relevant treatment. Others underwent a biopsy and are currently awaiting laboratory results to confirm the presence of cancer cells.
These figures were reported by registered nurse Ermelinde Ndina Shithigona, who stated that the hospital participated in the national cervical cancer screening campaign held from January 22 to 26.
Greater awareness, better prevention
Another campaign began 29 January in the Outapi district and will continue until today, with over 1 500 women anticipated to undergo screening.
Shithigona said during this campaign, cervical and breast cancer screening, as well as other general examinations, will be performed, while health education about cervical cancer prevention is also being undertaken.
Although cervical cancer is preventable, in 2020, an estimated 604 000 women were diagnosed worldwide, and about 342 000 women died from the disease. This is according to Cancer Association of Namibia's (CAN's) chief executive Rolf Hansen.
Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women around the world and the second most frequent cancer among women in Namibia. The prevalence is most frequent in women between the ages of 15 and 45, Hansen said.
Deputy minister of health Esther Muinjangue said January is commemorated as World Cervical Cancer Awareness Month, while World Cancer Day is commemorated on 4 February.
Public health
Muinjangue said there are different types of cancer; however, all types of cancer are preventable and treatable, especially with early detection and screening.
“Early screening plays a crucial role in identifying cancer at its early stages, when it is most manageable,” she said.
“It is a highly preventable public health problem that can be eliminated if women have access to available screening and treatment services. Since 2018, public health facilities have screened 138 992 women using visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA) and pap smear screening methods, yet there remains a significant number of women who have not been screened yet,” she said.
Muinjangue said women living with HIV are at an increased risk of developing cervical cancer.
These figures were reported by registered nurse Ermelinde Ndina Shithigona, who stated that the hospital participated in the national cervical cancer screening campaign held from January 22 to 26.
Greater awareness, better prevention
Another campaign began 29 January in the Outapi district and will continue until today, with over 1 500 women anticipated to undergo screening.
Shithigona said during this campaign, cervical and breast cancer screening, as well as other general examinations, will be performed, while health education about cervical cancer prevention is also being undertaken.
Although cervical cancer is preventable, in 2020, an estimated 604 000 women were diagnosed worldwide, and about 342 000 women died from the disease. This is according to Cancer Association of Namibia's (CAN's) chief executive Rolf Hansen.
Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women around the world and the second most frequent cancer among women in Namibia. The prevalence is most frequent in women between the ages of 15 and 45, Hansen said.
Deputy minister of health Esther Muinjangue said January is commemorated as World Cervical Cancer Awareness Month, while World Cancer Day is commemorated on 4 February.
Public health
Muinjangue said there are different types of cancer; however, all types of cancer are preventable and treatable, especially with early detection and screening.
“Early screening plays a crucial role in identifying cancer at its early stages, when it is most manageable,” she said.
“It is a highly preventable public health problem that can be eliminated if women have access to available screening and treatment services. Since 2018, public health facilities have screened 138 992 women using visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA) and pap smear screening methods, yet there remains a significant number of women who have not been screened yet,” she said.
Muinjangue said women living with HIV are at an increased risk of developing cervical cancer.
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