Screening is a critical component of cervical cancer elimination – Dr Kludjeson

Dr. Prince Kofi Kludjeson, President of Celltel Networks Limited, reiterated at the weekend that screening, which will aid in early detection, is a critical component for cervical cancer elimination as the world marches toward the 2030 deadline.

Dr. Kludjeson, who is the Board Chairman of the Communication for Development and Advocacy Consult (CDA Consult), which has embarked on a relentless national advocacy campaign to battle cervical cancer, emphasized the urgent need for information sharing on cervical cancer prevention.

He said young people, especially women, must be encouraged to undergo the screening. “Early detection is key to winning the war against cervical cancer; people should not fear going to health facilities for screening.”

Dr. Kludjeson, a former President of the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI), stressed that infection by high-risk types of human papillomavirus (HPV), the virus that causes over 99 percent of cervical cancers, can be prevented by safe and effective vaccines.

He said that as part of the World Health Organization (WHO) recommendation, girls between 9 and 14 years of age receive two doses of the HPV vaccine as a form of prevention, stressing that “we need collective efforts to deal with cervical cancer.

“Prophylactic vaccination against HPV and screening and treatment of pre-cancer lesions are effective strategies to prevent cervical cancer and are very cost-effective. Cervical cancer can be cured if diagnosed at an early stage and treated promptly,” Dr. Kludjeson quoted a WHO report and urged the corporate world to support CDA Consult cervical cancer prevention advocacy.

Dr. Kludjeson stated that CDA Consult, which is a development communication advocacy non-governmental organization, is rallying stakeholders toward a relentless national advocacy campaign to battle cervical cancer.

He added that CDA Consult aims to bring together health professionals, human rights advocates, gender activists, religion adherents, and communication practitioners to embark on a new model of advocacy.

He acknowledges that progress has been made in spreading cervical cancer awareness; nonetheless, "as we approach the 2030 Sustainable Development Goal threshold for cervical cancer eradication, we need to scale up our efforts through a comprehensive national action involving both state and non-state actors."

Mr. Francis Ameyibor, Executive Director of Communication for Development and Advocacy Consult (CDA Consult), said the advocacy group has to roll out a relentless advocacy campaign to combat cervical cancer in the country and also draw global attention to the slow pace of achieving the 2030 target and the need for scaling up the process.

The CDA Consult Executive Director said under the broad banner “Ghana Must Rise Against Cervical Cancer,” which emanates from the Change Paradigm Advocacy campaign for free cervical cancer vaccinations, advocacy, and scaling up prevention, detection, and treatment to eliminate cervical cancer in the country.

He said, that out of the national broad banner, regional-specific slogans and advocacy strategies have been developed to accelerate public education.

Mr. Ameyibor noted that, as a result, CDA Consult, in collaboration with the Eastern Regional Directorate of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) and the National Insurance Commission (NIC), launched the “Eastern Region Must Rise Against Cervical Cancer” last month.

He said, “Our team will work with regional health professionals to embark on vigorous education across the districts to ensure that the message to combat cervical cancer through vaccination, screening, diagnosis, and treatment is spread across.”

Mr. Ameyibor commended the NCCE and NIC for joining the CDA Consult cervical cancer prevention change paradigm advocacy to ensure that Ghana gathers the weapons to fight against cervical cancer.