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By Mary Makhiringa
Balaka, August 29, Mana: Young girls and women in Balaka can breathe a sigh following the introduction of a cervical cancer self-testing initiative which is being championed by the Women Coalition Against Cancer (WOCACA) in some hospitals in the district.
Speaking during a media orientation on Thursday, WOCACA Project Officer, Easter Nyirenda said a lot of women and young girls are afraid to have cervical cancer testing because of shyness, as well as fear of the process.
She said the organization has secured funding for the program in Balaka and Machinga from the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) to encourage women and girls in Balaka to go for a cervical cancer self-test to know their status.
The project is called advocacy for cervical cancer elimination through knowledge dissemination and screening services.
“We are asking you the media to help in disseminating the information to the rural masses as you are more trusted. We hope this approach will help more communities to access the services in their respective health centers,” she said.
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On her part, Health Promotion Officer for Balaka District Hospital, Mercy Nyirenda said since the inception of the self-testing initiative in January, the district has seen an increase in people demanding to be screened.
Nyirenda, therefore, asked for an escalation of the initiative to all health centres across the district.
“From January to June this year Nandumbo has screened 626 women and Phimbi has screened 547 women which is a good development compared with the past trends.
“This project will increase awareness on the need for cervical cancer screening targeting women of childbearing age; thereby, detection of the disease in its early stages and this will reduce admissions due to cancer and in the long run reduce disease burden in the district,” she said.
Nyirenda, however, urged everyone in the district to work together in encouraging women in the childbearing age bracket to come in large numbers for screening, saying cervical cancer does not show signs in its early stage and the only way to be safe is to come for screening.
