Gynecology and Oncology Unit of the Mallam Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano, has commenced a one month free Cervical Cancer screening in Kano State, North-northwest Nigeria.
The screening exercise is part of the activities marking the 2023 World Cancer month.
Cervical Cancer is a malignant tumour of the lower most part of the Uterus caused by infection.
An Obstetrician and Gynecologist, Dr. Usman Aliyu Umar, said the disease affects 600,000Â women world wide out of which 350,000 died annually.
He said of the figure, 80% are in the developing countries with Nigeria having fourteen thousand annually with over 9000 deaths.
“The major challenge being faced is in the awareness while there are no more than ten Chemotherapy Centre nationwide to treat the disease.
“Each session for the treatment can cost up to 500,000 Naira,” he said.
Dr Usman Aliyu Umar also explained that the best treatment for the disease is prevention through vaccination and screening for early detection.
He said symptoms for cervical cancer include watery vaginal discharge with smelly odour and vaginal bleeding after sexual intercourse
He therefore advised women to always present themselves for screening every three years and to practise safe sex to guard against contracting the disease.
Dr. Umar expressed satisfaction with the move by the Federal Government to include cervical cancer vaccination in the national vaccination policy.
This, he explained, is desirous as vaccines for cervical cancer cost between 10 to 15 thousand Naira.
