An NGO, Hope for the Village Child Foundation (HVCF), has screened no fewer than 100 women for cervical and breast cancers in Kaduna.
Speaking to NAN on the sidelines of the screening on Tuesday, Juliana Ekwoanya, a Deputy Director at the foundation, said it was also an avenue for them to enlighten women on the need to know their bodies and embrace regular check-ups.
Ekwoanya, who is also the Head of Health Section of the foundation, added that in recent times, women and young girls were being affected in large numbers by the two cancers.
She, therefore, said that after the screening, those found to have signs of or any of the cancers would be referred to tertiary medical facilities for treatment.
Ekwoanya said that the beneficiaries would pay N1,200 for the screening.
She explained that the cost of the cancer screening was $3,000, adding, ‘we subsidised it for the beneficiaries so as to cushion the effect of out-of-pocket medical spending.”
Sensitizing the women on cervical cancer, Rifkatu Samaila, a health professional at Mega Hospital Unguwan Boro, Kaduna, said cancer of the cervix is the most common cancer
of the female genital tract.
Ekwoanya said that the risk factors include early sexual exposure, multiple sexual partners, and cigarette smoking, while treatment can be through surgery or radiotherapy in the early stages.
She said that cancer of the cervix could be prevented through early detection by cervical smears (pap smears) for cytology, direct visualisation of the cervix, and biopsy of suspicious areas with its treatment.
The director urged women with the risk factors and all sexually active women, including those with problems of recurrent
vaginal discharge and bleeding following sexual
intercourse to seek medical attention.
Also sensitising the women on breast cancer, Alice Samuel, a midwife, harped on the importance of having breasts for women.
Samuel, who doubles as the foundation’s clinic coordinator, said, “A woman without breasts is like a half woman.”
Stressing the importance of breasts to include lactation, sexual arousal, and cosmetic purposes, Samuel said. ”When it is affected by cancer, it affects the whole person.”
She listed some of the signs of breast cancer, including sharp pains, lumps, and discharge in non-lactating women.
Samuel said, ”Self-examination and constant observation of the breasts will enable women to know if there are lumps and other symptoms, which should prompt them to go for a 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 a 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 life, which prompted them to undergo screening to know their cervical and breast cancer status.
NAN reports that the beneficiaries of the screening were drawn from Maraban Rido, Kujama, Kasuwan Magani, Sabo, Narayi, and Tudun Wada, among others.(NAN)
