Health

MEDICAL Women Association of Nigeria (MWAN), has started free cervical cancer screening for female members and wives of their male members.

President of the Kaduna State Association, Dr Zainab Kwaru, told the News Agency of Nigeria on Monday that the screening is part of efforts to meet the World Health Organization (WHO) global target for cervical cancer elimination by 2030.

Kwaru said the screening is in collaboration with the State Medical Association (NMA) and a way of giving back to members.

“We have been holding this screening yearly and we decided to extend this year’s screening to our female members and wives of our male members.

She said the association is targeting 100 women for the screening.

She said the screening will hold from Jan. 23 to Jan. 27, 2023, in two centers, with Reproductive Health clinic at the Ahmadu Bello University Teacching Hospital (ABUTH), Zaria, and Gynaecology clinic at the Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital (BDTH), Kaduna.

“MWAN Kaduna, in collaboration with NMA Kaduna will offer free cervical screening for her female members and wives of her male members only.

“Those eligible for the screening include sexually-active women, aged between 25 and 60 years, who have not been screened in the last three years”.

According to her, despite being *preventable*, cervical cancer remains a leading cause of death among women in developing countries.

She listed smoking, many sexual partners, early sexual activity, other sexually-transmitted infections (STIs), a weakened immune system and exposure to miscarriage prevention drug as risk to cervical cancer.

According to her, long-lasting infection with certain types of human papillomavirus (HPV) is the main cause of cervical cancer. HPV is a common virus that is passed from one person to another during sex. At least half of sexually-active people will have HPV at some point in their lives, but few women will get cervical cancer

Also speaking, the State Chairman, Nigeria Medical Association, Dr Sheyin Madaki, urges female doctors to use the opportunity and come out for the screening and also encouraged male doctors to support their wives to come out for the screening.

“This is a good gesture from the Women Medical Association. They have been giving out to the society and now they have decided to extend it to members and wives of male doctors.

“We appreciate their efforts and I encourage you all to come out for the screening. (NAN)

KN

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