Saving women from cervical cancer

No woman should be dying of cervical cancer in this day and age. Yet, over 260 000 women die annually, typically in low and middle-income countries such as Malawi.

According to data from the Ministry of Health, 4 145 women in the country were diagnosed with cervical cancer which can result from Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) in 2020 alone.

Additionally, the 2016-2020 National Cervical Cancer Strategy indicates that cervical cancer continues to be a public health problem in Malawi. It is the most common and the leading cause of cancer deaths among women.

The difference in incidence rates between high and low-income countries can be attributed primarily to access to effective screening and preventive treatment; with experts noting that the gaps might continue to widen if HPV vaccine usage continues to lag in low-income countries.

As health experts fear that over 19 million women will die from cervical cancer over the next 40 years if screening and preventive treatments are not intensified, it is sad that many more Malawian women will make the figure if it continues that few women are screened for early detection, and if few adolescent girls receive the HPV vaccines.

In essence, the availability of HPV vaccines in the country is an opportunity to reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with cervical cancer.

Nonetheless, it is sad that in the country, most parents do not want their nine to 13-year-old girls anywhere near the HPV vaccines amid myths that it will make girls infertile, and that it is the West’s way of reducing population growth.

The story of cervical cancer survivor on page 3 is evidence that women can survive the cancer with early detection, which clearly points to the importance of screening.

It is good that most private hospitals constantly remind women about cervical cancer screening and most of us find ourselves getting screened on our regular checks, I can testify.

I only hope that the case is the same in public hospitals given the fact that health personnel see hundreds of people on a given day, and might choose to overlook the screening, only getting to it when one comes with a problem that might be related to it as the case was with 49-year-old Marietta Mfutso who survived the cancer.

Again, reading through her story I am reminded of the poor health seeking behaviour among most of us in the country. We have symptoms for various illnesses every so often, but we often dismiss them as “just one of those,” and carry on with our daily lives, only to start panicking when it gets worse.

Imagine if she went on believing that this problem would go away on its own eventually as most of us do—the cancer would have been detected late, and to her disadvantage.

So, this is a reminder to you too reading this, and myself of course, to up our games when it comes to health seeking behaviour.

I must admit I am a culprit when it comes to this; because as I write, I am long overdue for a dentist’s appointment for teeth that have been giving me problems for a while now. I will do better.

With that said, our cover story this week is yet another inspiration. Her story is evidence that sometimes life’s challenges give us a nudge to work hard, as you will read that losing her husband served as an inducer for her to do more; and within six months of his demise, the business they started together has expanded.

We can only wish her continued strength from here on out so that in time she can realise her dreams of growing the business further and going international. Read more about the strong woman behind CTS Courier on page 7 and 8.

Your usual favourite columns, Family Values on page 5 and Candid Talk on page 8 are here with the best topics for your benefit and pleasure, so read on.

As for recipes, see for yourself this week’s recipe on page 5. And if you have a recipe you would like for others to try out, please send that to the supplement’s editor Carol on the emails given in the feedback section.

With that, read on, and I hope you will enjoy the read.