Women hail cervical cancer screening
Women in Mzimba District have expressed excitement with cervical cancer screening courtesy of Global Health Corps and International Training and Education Centre for Health (I-Tech).
Speaking in an interview on Wednesday at Jenda Health Centre, Wezi Zimba of Jenda Section 10 said the outreach initiative offered her an opportunity to know her status.
“Screening for cervical cancer motivates us to speak to fellow women on the importance of testing to know one’s status. According to health personnel, cervical cancer can be treated when detected early,” she said.
Another woman, Letina Phiri from Jenda Section 8A, said cervical cancer was killing many women because they discover it late.
“We seized the opportunity to go for testing to know our status. I urge other women to follow suit,” she said.
Jenda Health Centre community nurse Felistus Lungu said there was a high turnout during the outreach programme.
She said: “When we go out in villages to screen women for cervical cancer, they do not show interest until they present themselves to the hospital with symptoms. At this time, it is too late to treat them.
“Cervical cancer cannot be healed when you delay to seek medical help. I urge women that are HIV negative to undergo cervical cancer screening once in three years and those living with HIV once every year.”
I-Tech monitoring and valuation adviser Mafayo Phiri, who is also an aluminus for Global Health Corps, said many women shun cervical cancer screening.
“Most women seek help at a later stage when the cancer cells have spread widely and become untreatable,” he said.
In 2023, Mzimba District Hospital screened 3 245 women for cervical cancer
