By Moma Sandrine in Bamenda
It has been observed that at least five hundred thousand new cases of cervical cancer are recorded globally each year. In Cameroon, an estimated one thousand two hundred cases are recorded yearly. To this effect, the Cameroon Baptist Convention (CBC) came up with a scheme in 2007, the Women’s Health Program,WHP that seeks to create awareness on how women can maintain a healthy system.
This program focuses mainly on the screening and treatment/management of cervical cancer. Cervical cancer is that situation where the cells of a woman’s cervix (the lower part of the womb) grows out of control, invading surrounding cells.
In trying to find out more about cervical cancer and what the CBC health centre is doing to reduce its spread in the country, The SUN caught up with some staff of the Nkwen Baptist Health Center Bamenda to have their take.
According to the supervisor of nursing services, Chimi Emerencia CBC Nkwen, like other health units of the Baptist Convention, organizes routine cervical cancer screening.
“During this women’s week, we have reduced the price for screening by 50% to encourage more women to run their tests” she said.
“Cervical cancer, if not diagnosed and treated at an early stage, might result to death” Emerencia added.
Speaking on the main cause of cervical cancer, Chimi Emerencia told The SUN that “the Human Papiloma Virus (HPV) is the main cause of cervical cancer and can be transmitted through sexual intercourse”.
She added that women with a powerful immune system can easily get rid of this virus otherwise, they are prone to contracting the cervical cancer.
The Women’s Health Program Coordinator for the Nkwen Baptist Health Center, Mjodzeven Divine told The Sun that the centre receives an average of seven women each day who screen for the cervical cancer.
“At least sixty thousand women have been screened over the years by the WHP”. Divine told The SUN.
To him, much still has to be done to create awareness amongst women because the number of women screened so far does not meet the recommendation of the world Health Organization which states that for any project to be successful, it must meet at least 2/3 of the total population.
When a woman is screened cervical cancer negative, she is administered a preventive vaccine. For girls below the age of fifteen, 2 doses of the vaccine are administered within a one month interval while for females 15 years and above, 3 doses of the vaccine are administered, The SUN was told.
Cervical cancer will hardly portray any signs within its early stages but during the advance stage of the infection, a woman is likely to experience amongst others; Abnormal vaginal bleeding after menopause or after sex, bleeding or spotting between periods, longer or heavier menstrual periods than usual.
Cervical cancer kills 2 women worldwide on daily basis with Africa carrying the lion’s share. Women are therefore encouraged to always do regular checkups to prevent infection or spread of cervical cancer.