The absence of critical cervical cancer services in Akuapem South Municipality in the Eastern Region of Ghana is putting the lives of thousands of women at risk.
Thirty-nine thousand eight hundred and twenty-one (39,821) representing more than half of the population in Akuapem South Municipality are females, according to the 2021 Population and Housing Census.
However, the lack of access to HPV vaccination, cervical screening, and treatment services leaves many vulnerable to cervical cancer, a disease that could be prevented with proper healthcare interventions.
“It is not accessible at all here but this year we have been able to train two midwives so we will be organizing more of outreach services to the deprived communities so that at least they will also get access to it. It is not all our facilities that have the skills to screen for it” said Madam Emily Amponsah, Akuapem South Municipal Health Director
Cervical cancer, caused by persistent infection with the human papillomavirus (HPV), is the fourth most common cancer among women worldwide, with approximately 660,000 new cases and 350,000 deaths reported in 2022.
The majority of these cases occur in low- and middle-income countries like Ghana, where healthcare services are often limited.
During cervical cancer and HPV screening exercise organized by the Rotary Club of Akuapem Ridge in partnership with Joy & Love International, the Midwifery Exchange Program in Ghana, and the Planned Parenthood Association of Ghana (PPAG) at Pokrom a farming community on August 21, 2023, women from various communities who patronized the free cervical screening and treatment services expressed their concerns about the unavailability of these crucial services in the Municipality.
“I came from Aburi to take part in the screening because we don’t have access to such services in the district. I have been looking forward to this opportunity We thank the organizers for bringing it here. So that we check our status. We are told it is expensive but they have done it free for us ” Said Ama
Another woman Susana Mensah from Doboro said “I am 45 years but this is my first time screening for cervical cancer because the service is not accessible. So we thank the people who brought it here we also plead to the government to ensure we get access to screen frequently “
Leslie Bizovi, a specialist in Obstetrics and Gynecology with the University of Massachusetts and a member of the Joy & Love International medical team, described the situation as alarming, noting that many women in Ghana have never been screened for cervical cancer—a procedure that should be routine.
“Screening should be done starting from your 20’s but many women here in Ghana have ever had it so that is why we are here trying to promote screening. It should be routine. Every three times five years” Leslie Bizovi, a specialist in Obstetrics and Gynecology.
She added ” This is the second time we are coming here. We did a similar screening in Aburi, Ho and also we’ve been trying to collaborate with GHS. In January we had two people selected to be trained for the cervical cancer screening”.
The global strategy to eliminate cervical cancer by 2030, outlined by the World Health Organization (WHO), sets ambitious targets known as the 90–70–90 goals. These include ensuring that 90% of girls are fully vaccinated with the HPV vaccine by age 15, 70% of women are screened by age 35 and again by age 45, and 90% of women diagnosed with cervical disease receive the necessary treatment.
If these targets are met, it is projected that the incidence of cervical cancer could drop by 42% by 2045, potentially averting over 74 million new cases and preventing more than 300,000 deaths by 2030.
Emily Amponsah, who doubles as President of the Rotary Club in Akuapem South said the club recognizes the service gap hence cervical cancer screening being its first major project in the district.
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/Kojo Ansah
