03 Sep 2023

Despite high prevalence of cervical cancer in low and middle income countries, stigma remains an issue, Ms Karen Nakawala of Zambia, said this at a side event of the Africa Regional Committee meeting hosted by WHO in Gaborone under the theme: Building a Foundation of Africa Free of Cervical Cancer, reaffirming commitments to eliminate cervical cancer as a public health problem in the African region.

Ms Nakawala, a cancer survivor, said cervical cancer should not be stigmitised because those affected would be discouraged to seek medical help.

She said if women were were ashamed to be open about their cervical cancer status, treatment uptake  would continue to be low.

She therefore called on women to regularly get screened and get treatment when diagnosed with cervical cancer.

She said the fact that in every two minutes a woman dies because of cancer was enough to get people tested and young girls get Human Papillomavirus Vaccine (HVP)to defeat and eliminate cervical cancer risks.

She said it was disheartening that in some African countries women wait for about two years before they could treatment after being diagnosed with cervical cancer, saying the more they wait for treatment the faster  the cancer spread.

She advocated that every girl child in between of ages 9-14 years should get HVP vaccine saying it lowers the risk of developing cervical cancer.

Ms Nakawala therefore called for an urgent attention in regards to the fight for cervical cancer in Africa.

She said it was important for African countries to attain the 90 70 90 targets adding through the  availability of HVP vaccines and prompt treatment the health targets could be attained.

She called on cancer survivors embark on campaigns to raise awareness on cervical cancer. ENDS