By Chukwudi Nwauba :
Anambra State Ministry of Health in partnership with the World Health Organisation (WHO) Clinton Assess Health Initiative (CHAI) has trained Medical Doctors on Cervical Cancer prevention and treatment.
Dr. Afam Obidike said that cervical cancer is a silent killer that can be prevented through early screening, detection and treatment.
“One may not know about the disease until it starts to spread. We are working with the WHO to help us with the HPV vaccines by next year so that our people will be vaccinated against the disease.
“Just like I said, early screening and detection are important to reducing the cervical cancer burden and cervical cancer is one form of cancer that can be prevented.
“The good news is that early screening tests, treatment will be done at Ekwulobia, Enugwu-Ukwu, and Umueri General Hospitals and at some designated Primary Healthcare Centres including hard to reach areas of the state.’’
Dr. Obidike said this during the 3-days training of medical personnels on cervical cancer secondary prevention and treatment in Awka.
The commissioner explained that the 15 medical doctors that have undergone cervical cancer training are master trainers and they will in turn train other health personnel across the state.
He commended Gov. Charles Soludo for granting his ministry all the necessary support in order to actualize the objective of the cervical cancer programme in the state.
“We want to thank in a special way the wife of the governor, Dr. Mrs Nonye Soludo who is also the cervical cancer State Champaign Champion Ambassador for commitment in ensuring that women benefit from this screening and treatment program as well to continue the screening afterwards.
“Through her we were able to link the free screening to the state Health Insurance Scheme.
“So, I am making a passionate appeal to the master trainers to put in their best going forward because for us we want to ensure that 5000 thousand women or more benefit from this screening and treatment programs.’’
Dr. Uju Okoye, State Reproductive Health Coordinator, Cervical Cancer Focal Person said the doctors are groomed as master trainers for cervical cancer secondary prevention campaigns.
“Our lead facilitators are Prof. Kennedy Nyengidiki from University of Portharcourt and Dr. Kua Paul from River State University Teaching Hospital.’’
According to her, participants were drawn from Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital and General Hospitals in the state.
The training centered on; Anatomy of female genital system, Physiology and embryology of cervix and transformation pathology of the cervix, Aetiology of cervical cancer, Epidemiology, Cervical intraepithelial Neoplasia, Counselling and informed consent.
Visual inspection with acetic acid, Causes of false positive and false negative VIA, Infection prevention sterilization, Primary Human Papillomavirus, HPV DNA testing, Thermal Ablation use of the LEEP device as well as the Colposcope machine and Outpatient management of cervical precancerous lesions.
Also clinical sections of the training was done at the state University Teaching Hospital.