By
Samira Larbie, GNA
Accra, Jan. 21, GNA
– Ms Rose Eduful, the Principal Nursing Officer of the Korle-Bu Teaching
Hospital (KBTH) Reproductive Health Centre, has urged teenage girls to abstain
from early sexual activity to reduce the risk of getting cervical cancer in the
future.
It said research has
proven that abstaining from early sex
was one way of reducing cervical cancer, the most common cancer among
women in Ghana.
Ms Eduful made this
known to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in an interview in Accra.
She said the human
papilloma virus (HPV), which caused cervical cancer, was acquired through skin
to skin contact with someone who had the virus during sexual intercourse.
She said once
infected, the virus could stay in the host for about 10 to 15 years before
symptoms start to show.
“Symptoms include;
offensive discharge from the vagina, blood flow after normal menstrual period,
during or after sexual intercourse and women in their menopausal age who bleed,
prolonged back pains, loss of weight among others,” Madam Eduful added.
She said it was for
that reason that the facility would be embarking on a three month cervical
cancer awareness campaign starting on January 24, 2020 to screen more women and
girls.
The screening, which
normally costs Ghc150.00 would be at a discounted rate of Gh¢80.00 to be able
to screen more women.
“Also the HPV
vaccination, which was GH¢300.00 is reduced to GH¢200.00 to allow more women to
vaccinate as preventive measures,” she added.
Ms Eduful said after
three years of sexual exposure, every woman should have a cervical cancer test,
while teenagers from nine to 14 years who had not been initiated to sex should
be given the vaccine to prevent them from getting the HPV infection.
She said teenage
girls, not engaged in any sexual activity would be 100 per cent immunised when
they go for vaccination.
“Women who are
already engaged in sexual activity however, havw 70 per cent chances hence, the
need for them to get screened at least once every three years, Ms Eduful added.
She advised women
who experience any of the symptoms to visit the health centre for medical
examination adding that some of the risk factors of developing cervical cancer
included; the human papilloma virus (HPV), low socio-economic status, smoking,
marrying before age 18 years, young age at the first coitus, multiple sexual
partners, multiple sexual partners of spouse, and multiple childbirths.
The Cancer Advocate
said too many women were dying of cervical cancer, and every woman needed
examination to reduce the deaths.
She said statistics
indicated that 3,000 cervical cancer cases were recorded annually with more
than half of those diagnosed not surviving due to late reporting.
“But the good
thing is that the situation can be averted when detected early and therefore
the screening is necessary,” she added.
She revealed that
the Greater Accra Regional Hospital Ridge and other public and private
facilities would be embarking on a campaign and urged women to take advantage
and get screened.
Cervical cancer is a
major public health issue causing increasing morbidity and mortality globally.
GNA