Pulse.ng : HVCF screens women on cervical, breast cancer in Kaduna

By Sani Idris

Hope for the Village Child Foundation (HVCF), has screened no fewer than 100 women on cervical and breast cancer in Kaduna.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the world cancer day is an international day marked on February 4th, to raise awareness of cancer and to encourage its prevention, detection, and treatment.

World cancer day is led by the Union for International Cancer Control to support the goals of the World Cancer Declaration, written in 2008.

The slogan for the 2024 world cancer day is “Close the care gap”.

Speaking to NAN at the sideline of the screening on Wednesday, sister Juliana Ekwoanya, a Deputy Director at the foundation, said they decided to commemorate the day even though not on the exact day, but within the commemoration month of the world cancer day.

Ekwoanya who is also the head of health section of the foundation, added that the screening was also an avenue for them to enlighten women on the need to know their bodies and embrace regular check-up.

She lamented that, in recent times, women and young girls are being affected in large number by the two cancers.

She therefore said after the screening, those found having signs or having any of the cancer would be referred to higher medical facilities for treatment.

However, Ekwoanya said the beneficiaries would pay 1,200 for the screen.

She explained that the cost of the cancers screening was 3,000, but subsidising it for the beneficiaries so as to cushion the effect of out-of-pocket medical spendings.

Sensitising the women on cervical cancer, Rifkatu Samaila, a health personnel at Mega Hospital Unguwan Boro, Kaduna, said cancer of the cervix is the commonest cancer
of the female genital tract.

She said the
risk factors included early sexual exposure, multiple sexual partners and cigarette smoking, while it treatment is surgery or radiotherapy in carly stage as
radiotherapy in late stage.

Samaila equally said cancer of the cervix could be prevented through early detection by cervical smear (Pap smear) for cytology and direct visualisation of the
cervix and biopsy of suspicious area with it treatment.

She urged women with the risk factors and all sexually active women including those with problem of recurrent
vaginal discharge and bleeding following sexual
intercourse to seek medical attention.

Also sensitising the women on breast cancer, Alice Samuel, a midwife at the HVCF, harped on the importance of having breasts by women.

Samuel who double as the foundation’s clinic coordinator, said “A woman without breast is like a half woman”.

Stressing on the importance of breast to include lactation, sexual arousal and cosmetics purpose, Samuel said when it is affected by cancer, it affects the whole person.

She listed some of the signs of breasts cancer to include sharp pains, lumps and discharge in non-lactating women.

The midwife said self-examination and constant observation of the breasts would enable women to know if there are lumps and other symptoms which should prompt them to go for diagnosis.

She urged the women to always self-examine themselves for lumps in the breast after menstruating.

“A woman who has given birth before is not supposed to feel lump in her breast, if she does, then that is a symptom and should not be taken for granted,”she said.

Some of the beneficiaries, Mrs Agnes Auta and Mrs Comfort Sunday, commended the foundation for subsidising the screenings.

The duo said they wished for a complete healthy living which prompted them to the screening and the meager amount which would help them know their cervical and breast cancer status.

NAN reports that the beneficiaries of the screening were cut across women from Maraban Rido, Kujama, Kasuwan Magani, Sabo, Narayi, Tudun Wada, among other places within kaduna metropolis and suburbs.
(NAN)