25 Jul 2024

Selebi Phikwe District Health Management Team has embarked on a two-week cervical cancer screening and treatment campaign targeted at women in Selebi Phikwe.

The campaign, which runs from July 22 to August 1, started at Tapologo Clinic and will extend to Botshabelo and Kagiso clinics.

The Nursing Officer at Botshabelo Clinic who also coordinates this campaign, Ms Portia Jakoba, said in an interview that the campaign targeted 200 women aged between 25 and 50.

Ms Jakoba said two types of cancer screening will be performed. They include five per cent acetic acid mainly for women aged between 25 and 49 as well as pap smear, which will be performed on women aged 50 and above.

She said those performing the acetic acid test will receive the results immediately while those who do pap smear will have to wait for a few weeks to receive their results.

However, she raised concern over the response from members of the community saying that there were still signs of resistance from members of the public because the first day of the campaign started with few women.

“Most women who come here for screening are adults, we encourage young women to also visit our three clinics to screen,” she said.

Ms Jakoba also explained that young women were also reluctant to do cancer screening though they were also at risk of contracting the Human Papillomavirus, which causes cancer.She said pre-cancer screening was crucial in detecting any changes in the cervix that could become cancerous, adding that cervical cancer is preventable and treatable if detected early.

Ms Jakoba encouraged all young and adult women to undergo regular screening, adding that if left untreated, cervical cancer could be life threatening.

Ms Jakoba encouraged girls aged between nine and 15 to go for the HPV vaccination. She also urged girls to delay sexual activity because engaging in sex at an early age can put them at a high risk of developing cancer at a young age. ENDS