Cervical Cancer: Women Urged To Go For Screening

The Eve Afrique Redball in support of cervical cancer awareness was held recently in Port Harcourt with a charge to women to get screened for the health condition, at least, once every year.

In a presentation, co-chairman of Medical Women Association of Nigeria (MWAN), Dr Rosemary Ogu drew the attention of Nigerian women to the increasing cases of cervical cancer occurrence in the society, which she said was a sexually transmitted ailment.

She described cervical cancer as a “purposeless growth within the cervix”, adding that the health condition  had its early symptom as abnormal cervical discharge, including bleeding and unpleasant smell emanating from the sufferer.

The medical practitioner said that all hope was not lost as the condition was preventable, and recommended HPV  testing; Pap smear; Visual inspection of the cervix and Vaccination of the girl-child under the age of nine years, as sure ways of preventing the unpleasant health condition.

Earlier in her address, Editor-in-Chief/Chief Operating Officer of Eve-Afrique magazine, Mrs. Ivy Davies Etokakpan had said that the Redball charity was designed to contribute to the betterment of the society.

She recalled that her organisation has had two other editions in the past, focusing on other health-related issues. Mrs Etokakpan paid glowing tribute to all individuals and corporate bodies who partnered with her firm for the actualization of this year’s Redball, and offered to sponsor some females to undertake the pap smear test, for the purpose of checking for cervical cancer.

Highlight of the occasion, was the presentation of “Heart of God” award to Justice Elsie Thompson of Rivers State Judiciary, Mr Alex Enebeli of Express Wash Laundry Services, Mrs B. Inko-Tariah of Station Ventures, Mrs. Udochi Parker, wife of the Rivers State Commissioner for Health  among others.