Mr Francis Ameyibor, Executive Director for Communication for Development and Advocacy Consult (CDA Consult) has called on the government to make cervical cancer vaccinations free.
He says it is an effective way to prevent the disease and encourage more young ladies to undergo the vaccination.
The director noted that, for Ghana to accelerate the elimination of cervical cancer by 2030, its vaccination should be free in the country.
Mr Ameyibor, who was speaking at the commemoration of the 2024 Cancer Awareness Month advocacy in Kumasi recently, quoted World Health Organisation data and noted that cervical cancer was the fourth most common cancer in women, with 604,000 new cases in 2020.
The CDA Consult Executive Director, therefore, called on the government to seriously consider absorbing the cost of cervical cancer vaccination to reduce the burden on women and also encourage more women to participate in the vaccination.
Dr Yaa Akyaa Boateng, a Family Physician Specialist, at International Maritime Hospital (IMaH) at Tema, also stated that cervical cancer is curable when symptoms are detected early.
According to her, the crucial step to cure cervical cancer is identifying symptoms and getting medical advice to address any concerns.
Dr. Akyaa Boateng, while speaking on the topic: “Preventive Health Care for Women”, in commemoration of the 2024 Cancer Awareness Month advocacy, encouraged young ladies, irrespective of their age, to seek medical attention for early detection and symptoms of Cervical cancer for medical advice, as Cervical cancer can be cured at any age if detected early.
She stated that, if a woman notices unusual bleeding throughout her menstrual cycle after menopause, or during sexual activity, elevated or malodorous vaginal discharge symptoms, such as recurrent pelvic, back, or leg pain, weariness, appetite loss, vaginal discomfort and leg swelling, one must seek medical attention.
She noted that it is important to go for diagnostic tests and clinical evaluations, which would be typically followed by referrals for treatment services such as chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and surgery, as well as palliative care to offer pain management and supportive care.
The IMaH Family Physician Specialist emphasized the significance of the management pathways for invasive cancer care and stressed that increasing public awareness and facilitating access to resources are essential to preventing and controlling cervical cancer throughout a person’s life.
She mentioned that a highly efficient strategy to avoid HPV infection, cervical cancer, and other malignancies associated with HPV is to get vaccinated between the ages of 9 and 14.
Dr. Boateng stated that before girls aged nine to 14 engage in sexual activity, HPV vaccinations should be administered to them as a priority.
