Planned Parenthood Federation of Nigeria (PPFN) in collaboration with Peramere medical and Defence and Police Officers’ Wives Association (DEPOWA) has began a free Cervical Cancer Screening and treatment for 1000 women in Abuja.
The DEPOWA President , Mrs. Ogboho Musa, made this known on Monday in Abuja during the flag off ceremony tagged : “Cervical cancer screening: Early Detection Saves Lives” worrying that cancer has been a very huge challenge to women for many years.
Musa who was represented by the consultant public health physician Dr. Juliet Ango, said the target is to screen 1000 women with the Illumigyn Gynescope, explaining that cancer expands the cervic up to 10 times , given visual room to pick any altered cancer cells.
“The initiative is very important, cancer has been a challenge to women for a long time and we have been advocating for early Detection, early screening for cervical cancer , the screening measure available is the VIA which is visual inspection, but this initiative is actually Gynescope which is different from what we have on ground,” she said.
She added that the Defense is a restricted population, hence the need to advocate for awareness and early screening and detection for women of the association.
“The defense is a restricted population, because a lot of people don’t come in, so
we tend to advocate for this women to actually go out and all that, So this collaboration between PPFN and DEPOWA will go a long way in reaching the women because we are also conducting cancer awareness and giving free services, they will be fortunate to have access to this Gynescope which is not so common in Nigeria as a whole. “ she said
She added that the initiative is free for the first 1000 women , while assuring that there will be more free spots subsequently.
“This initiative is for the first 1000 women , but that doesn’t mean there will not be another thousand and another thousand more and and it gives a room for other philanthropist to key in to sponsor other women. “She added
Earlier, the acting Director of Programs PPFN Dr. Paul Odigbo, noted that the initiative is meant to increase and expand access for cervical cancer screening for Women.
He said “it’s an initiative we had with Premare medical to increase and expand access 1000 cervical cancer screening exercise and we are piloting this initiative here at the NHQ clinic and we intend to expand with funding we intend to reach the first 1000 women with free cervical cancer screening.
“PPFN got a machine that can treat the minor legions or minor cervical cancer legions we are able to dictate that is also one initiative we have put in place to ensure cervical cancer free nation.”
According to him , PPFN has 45 clinics in the 6 geopolitical zones in Nigeria while partnering with over 180 clinics scattered across the nation.
He further stated that sexually active women and women with HIV are at higher risk of contacting cervical cancer as he calls for early checkups and treatment.
He said” the most vulnerable women are sexually active women and those that are immuno deficient , so If you are Immuno deficient , someone that have HIV they are going to have high ability to contact this HPU cancer instead of having any form of legion than any other person.
“So you have more chances of contacting HPU if you are immuno deficient or immuno suppressed than someone that does not have,” he said.