By Andrew Mkonda

Lilongwe, February 2, Mana: Mothers2mothers, a non-governmental organization, has underscored the need for different stakeholders who are implementing health related issues in Lilongwe to join hands in curbing the spread of cervical cancer among adolescent girls and women.

The organization’s Project Manager Yvonne Sunduza made the call on Thursday when she was presenting the project to members of the District Executive Committee (DEC).

Sunduza said the project, if well implemented, is expected to reach about 10,000 girls and women of the reproductive age in Traditional Authorities Kabudula, Masula and Tsabango in the district.

“We want to support these girls and women by imparting correct cervical cancer messages, more especially in hard-to-reach areas where they have no access to such messages like those living in urban areas.

“It is sad that many girls and women are dying of cervical cancer in silence due of lack of knowledge and correct information on early screening and detection of the disease,” she said.

Sunduza then disclosed that apart from imparting knowledge of cervical cancer among girls and women, the project will also link them to service providers so that they go for early detection of the disease.

Lilongwe District Senior Health Promotions Officer Richard Mvula thanked the organization for the initiative, saying it has come at the right time when many women are continuing losing their lives due to cervical cancer.

Mvula said cervical cancer can be cured if it is detected at an early stage, hence urged women and adolescent girls to find time for cervical screening so that they reduce the prevalence rate of the disease.

Mvula further encouraged parents and guardians to allow their adolescent girls to go for cervical cancer vaccination.

According to World Health Organisation, estimates indicate that every year 4,145 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer in the country and 2,905 die from the disease.