12 May 2017

Research has shown that like many cancers, there may be no signs or symptoms of cervical cancer until it has progressed to a dangerous stage.

A 23-year-old student from University of Botswana, Ms Lesedi Tsholofelo has initiated a campaign dubbed 'Prolonged Life: Cervical Cancer Awareness,' aimed at raising cervical cancer awareness through social media and public debates platforms.

In an interview, Ms Tsholofelo explained that the campaign targeted even remote areas and sought volunteers the entire country.

She said government’s efforts to curb the disease were appreciated as a lot had already been done.

The initiative she said encouraged testing.

She stated that the initiative started off as a school project with team mates who then encouraged her to take it to national level to help disseminate and avail information about the disease and associated ailments such as sexually transmitted infections.

Teams responsible for the campaign were established November last year and there were about 23 branch groups located in different areas, she said.

Ms Tsholofelo noted that teams would hold public debates about the disease in different areas adding that they had already been to St Joseph's College and Gaborone bus rank where the public responded positively and showed interest in knowing about the disease and testing.

She explained that the campaign advocated for behavioural change and touched on issues such as safe male circumcision and teenage pregnancy..

She encouraged both males and females to take part because everyone was affected by Human Papillomavirus.

However, Ms Tsholofelo pointed out that the initiative was financially challenged and appealed for assistance from government and the general public. ENDS