Create awareness to end cervical cancer
Statistics from the Global Cancer Network (Globocan) indicate that more than 5,000 Kenyan women get cervix uteri cancer every year, out of which over three thousand die.
That accounts for nine women everyday. These statistics should concern everyone in the country, especially since the cancer is preventable.
Cervical cancer is caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), a common virus usually transmitted sexually. Unfortunately, the dangerous bit about this virus is that most infections it causes come with no symptoms.
For this reason, it is life saving to have screening early to detect any issues, which if ignored might be fatal. In light of this, and as the country marks the cervical cancer awareness month, it is the onus of the government and other stakeholders to inform the populace about cervical cancer.
With this, women and girls would be able to not only get information they need but also have the courage to visit health facilities for screening and diagnosis.
It is commendable that the government already launched the HPV vaccination and included it in the routine immunisation schedule for girls aged 10.
This move is vital in the achievement of the 2020 World’s Health Organisation drive to eliminate cervical cancer under three pillars: To vaccinate 90 per cent of girls with the HPV vaccine by the age of 15; to screen 70 per cent of women by the age of 35 and again by 45; and to treat 90 per cent of women with precancer and manage 90 per cent of women with invasive cancer by 2030.
However, this cannot be achieved if the population is still grappling with myths and misconceptions about the HPV vaccine. It is also vital that the government encourage early screening, which involves testing for precancer and cancer.
With this, it will be easier to detect infection which can be treated and thus avoid cancer. Making these services available, accessible and affordable will go a long way in saving the lives of women in the country.
It would also reduce the overall burden on healthcare by reducing cancer cases and related cost of treatment.
This means there needs to be a concerted effort to involve all stakeholders from community to religious leaders to address contentious issues and to promote the passing of the right messages to the community.
An informed community would be in a better place to put its health first and take initiative to prevent cervical cancer
