By Edson Levison

Mzimba, May 24, Mana. Women in Mzimba have commended Global Health Corps and International Training and Education Centre for Health (I-Tech) for carrying out cervical cancer screening services in Mzimba.

According to Wezi Zimba of Jenda, the initiative will enhance increased awareness on cervical cancer amongst stakeholders including women in the district.

“This initiative will save many lives of women and girls as they will be empowered to seek medical assistance when diagnosed with cancer,” said Zimba.  

She encouraged women and girls in the district and the country as whole to be going for cervical cancer screening for them to know their status.

“This initiative should motivate us to talk about the disease with fellow women and dispel any misconceptions which can counteract the aim of the initiative, “she said.

Another woman, Letina Phiri of the same area said any delay in seeking medical treatment for those found positive makes it hard for doctors to treat the disease if diagnosed at an advanced stage.

Community nurse for Jenda Health Centre, Felistus Lungu commended women in the area for patronizing the facility for cervical cancer screening services.

Lungu also urged women and girls who are HIV positive to undergo cervical cancer screening once annually and those who are negative should go for the service once after every three years.

Monitoring and Evaluation Advisor for I-Tech who is also an alumnus for Global Health Corps, Mafayo Phiri, said it is unfortunate that most women across the country shun cancer screening.

“We need to increase awareness interventions on screening as well as addressing the information gap,

Phiri said the organization will soon be rolling out cervical cancer screening in various health facilities in the district.

Almost 3,245 women in 2023 went for cancer screening services in the district.