Al -Hayaat Foundation holds cervical cancer seminar

Accra, Nov. 27, GNA - As part of measures to eliminate cervical cancer in the country, the Al Hayaat Foundation, a civil society organisation, has organised a cervical cancer sensitization seminar in Accra.

The day's seminar was organised in collaboration with the Students Representative Council of the Women's Commission of the Central University College.

The seminar, which registered over 250 participants, was aimed at encouraging students to join the campaign of eradicating cervical cancer through awareness creation.

Speaking at the ceremony, Hajia Hanatu Abubakar, Founder and President of the Al- Hayaat Foundation, said according to the World Health Organisation, about 400,000 women are diagnosed of cervical cancer across the world yearly, however, about 275,000 women die and 80 per cent of these death cases were recorded in developing countries including Ghana.

She said as a result of its impact on women in the society, there was a need for all to come on board to help address the issue and more importantly, encourage the masses to embark on a regular screening exercises.

She said there was the need to stress that 'it is only when you go for screening that early abnormalities can be detected'.

Later in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA), Hajia Abubakar said among the objectives of the Foundation was to promote healthy lifestyles, education and empowerment of women.

She said her Foundation would soon organise a programme for the Adenta Community to round off the year.

She said the Foundation would celebrate the Christmas season with them as part of activities to end the year and also urged benevolent individuals and organisations to support the activities of the Foundation.

Dr Afua Commey of the Public Health Division of the Ghana Health Service said due to the hidden nature of the cervix most women were not aware of the concern as it cannot easily be detected at an early stage till the person undergoes screening.

She said issues relating to cancer, specifically cervical cancer, needed to be addressed as a matter of urgency as 3000 women were diagnosed within 2013 and 2014, at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital and Korle- Bu Teaching Hospital.

Dr Commey said cervical cancer was sexually transmitted and stressed that men also had roles to play to ensure its prevention.

She said the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) infection is acquired through sex and though men do not have cervix, they can pass it on from an infected woman to the other.

Ms Beatrice Yeboah Gyimah, the Women's Commissioner, Central University College, told GNA that considering the special needs of women it was only prudent that special health care services were provided.

She said cases of cervical cancer had been on the increase hence the need to educate young women on campus about the disease.

Ms Gyimah said as a Women's Commissioner, such seminars were part of activities to sensitize students, so far as health related programmes are concerned.

She said in October the Commission organised a breast cancer screening and would end the year with an 'HIV/AIDS Awareness' program.

Cervical cancer is a cancer of the entrance to the uterus (womb); it occurs when abnormal cells on the cervix grow out of control, and this occurs most commonly in women over the age 30.

Cervical cancer can be prevented through; avoiding multiple sexual partners to avoid HPV infection, avoid smoking, getting screened for detection of early abnormalities by going for a visual inspection with acetic acid test.

GNA