News / Health
480 women screened for cervical cancer every month at UBH
16 Sep 2013 at 04:01hrs | Views
NEARLY 500 women are screened for cervical cancer every month at United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH) under the Zimbabwe Cervical Cancer Programme in an effort to prevent the disease among women.
The programme provides Visual Inspection with Acetic Acid and Cervicography (VIAC) screening for free amid estimations that half of all cervical cancer occurs in women who have never been screened and accounts for a third of all cancers among women.
In an interview, UBH chief executive officer Mrs Nonhlanhla Ndlovu said the programme was a success since the hospital was overwhelmed by women coming for screening.
"The response is overwhelming, 30 women are screened everyday with an average monthly total of 480 women," she said.
Mrs Ndlovu said they also provided monthly lectures on cervical cancer for women in collaboration with the Ministry of Gender.
"We teach women about cancer and we do follow ups on those who test positive. We instantly inform them on the treatment options which are chemotherapy, LEEP and total vaginal or abdominal hysterectomy."
Despite the fact that the programme had proven to be a commendable initiative, the hospital authorities were still facing challenges such as a lack of resources, including machinery, accommodative infrastructure and sterilising machines.
"The buildings are small as a result they are always overcrowded. We also face shortage of resources and technical attention for our equipment such as cameras and laptops," said Mrs Ndlovu.
She said women should embrace the notion that prevention is better than cure, by reporting to their nearest clinics for VIAC screening.
"Women who have foul smelling discharges, lower abdominal pain, fever or bleed in excess during menstruation should report to local clinics immediately for screening so as to prevent the development of cervical cancer.
"Women should know that health of a woman is health of the family and of the nation at large."
Mrs Ndlovu said screening should be done every three years for women who were HIV negative and yearly for HIV positive women who were 18 years and above at any of the VIAC centres in Bulawayo.
VIAC centres include UBH, Mpopoma clinic, Mpilo Hospital and some private surgeries.
Global estimates show that 500 000 new cases of cervical cancer occur every year and 86% of those cases occur in developing countries including Zimbabwe.
The programme provides Visual Inspection with Acetic Acid and Cervicography (VIAC) screening for free amid estimations that half of all cervical cancer occurs in women who have never been screened and accounts for a third of all cancers among women.
In an interview, UBH chief executive officer Mrs Nonhlanhla Ndlovu said the programme was a success since the hospital was overwhelmed by women coming for screening.
"The response is overwhelming, 30 women are screened everyday with an average monthly total of 480 women," she said.
Mrs Ndlovu said they also provided monthly lectures on cervical cancer for women in collaboration with the Ministry of Gender.
"We teach women about cancer and we do follow ups on those who test positive. We instantly inform them on the treatment options which are chemotherapy, LEEP and total vaginal or abdominal hysterectomy."
Despite the fact that the programme had proven to be a commendable initiative, the hospital authorities were still facing challenges such as a lack of resources, including machinery, accommodative infrastructure and sterilising machines.
"The buildings are small as a result they are always overcrowded. We also face shortage of resources and technical attention for our equipment such as cameras and laptops," said Mrs Ndlovu.
She said women should embrace the notion that prevention is better than cure, by reporting to their nearest clinics for VIAC screening.
"Women who have foul smelling discharges, lower abdominal pain, fever or bleed in excess during menstruation should report to local clinics immediately for screening so as to prevent the development of cervical cancer.
"Women should know that health of a woman is health of the family and of the nation at large."
Mrs Ndlovu said screening should be done every three years for women who were HIV negative and yearly for HIV positive women who were 18 years and above at any of the VIAC centres in Bulawayo.
VIAC centres include UBH, Mpopoma clinic, Mpilo Hospital and some private surgeries.
Global estimates show that 500 000 new cases of cervical cancer occur every year and 86% of those cases occur in developing countries including Zimbabwe.
Source - Chronicle
