A non-governmental organization targeted towards creating awareness and education on cervical cancer among women ‘Cervca is real’ has been launched in Accra.
Cervical cancer is caused when the cervix of a woman becomes cancerous, triggered by a virus known as the human papilloma virus.
According to research, Ghana has a population of 8.57 million women ages 15 years and older who are at risk of developing cervical cancer. Current estimates indicate that every year 3,151 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer and 2,119 die from the disease.
Cervical cancer ranks as the second most frequent cancer among women in Ghana and the second most frequent cancer among women between 15 and 44 years of age.
Founder of the foundation Rosina Osabu said the foundation was formed from the realization that there was not adequate sensitization on the topic, especially among the youth.
She explained that she and a group of friends, some of who were paramedics as herself started a Whatsapp group to treat the topic, and in a couple of days the number of members grew to 300. That was how the idea of the foundation came about.
Educating guests at the launch, she said “once you are sexually active you can get cervical cancer. If you have multiple sexual partners, smoke, and become sexually active at an early age, you are also prone to the virus.”
She added that the HPV virus may take between 10 and 20 years for it be fully grown, and start manifesting itself. She, however, urged all women to go for cervical cancer screening as soon as possible.
Ace broadcaster Oheneyere Gifty Anti who spoke as a special guest at the event noted that
cervical cancer was one of the cancers that could be easily prevented and treated. “We all will die but some deaths are very foolish deaths, and very painful,” she stressed.
“I have seen somebody die from cervical cancer, and it’s painful and traumatic for the family. The stench that comes out of it is deadly,” she said.
She went on “as women, there are so many things that give us confidence, makes us feel sexy and bold, but one important factor is your heath. As a woman, knowing your health status. Our health is everything.”
“If a woman is not healthy, everything is a total mess in the house. If you are not a decent woman, you can’t train your child to be descent. If you are not a healthy woman, you can’t keep a healthy home. If you are not a happy woman, you can’t make your family happy,” she admonished.
She added “protect yourself constantly by getting yourselves screened. Health is paramount, so don’t let us joke with it.”
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/103.5FM/Senanu Damilola Wemaor
