By Chinwe Imo-Eze Onwosi
The First lady of Ebonyi state, Mrs Mary-Maudline Nwifuru has organised a free cervical cancer screening for 1000 women in the state
Mrs Nwifuru, while flagging-off the exercise held at Enunwovu General Hospital, Abakaliki Local Government Area of the state said the outreach was geared at creating awareness and curb the spread of cancer related ailments among Women.
She said the free medical outreach was organised by the her office in collaboration with her foundation, Better Health for Rural Women, children and Internally Displaced, (BERWO), the Medical Women Association and Alex-Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki.
The governor’s wife said the exercise with the theme “Ending Cervical Cancer Within a Few Generations, With The Goal of Raising Cervical Cancer and HPV Vaccination Awareness” will provide opportunity for women to to screen, detect the early stage of cervical cancer.
According to her, “it will provide timely care that will reduce morbidity and mortality from cervical cancer.”
The First Lady called on all medical practitioners, stakeholders and traditional rulers to show more commitment to educating, advocating, and supporting women’s health to prevent health condition.
On her part, Mrs Lilian Nwobashi, the President, Medical Women Association said that the programme was aimed to sensitise women on the dangers of cervical cancer, as this is one of the leading cause of deaths in women.
“We are starting with the first 200 to 300 women. All the partners are here to conduct free cervical cancer screening for all Ebonyi women.
“We want to catch them early, teach women when to go to hospital and signs of the illments,” Nwobashi said.
Mr Moses Ekuma, Commissioner for Health and Mr Sunday Nwogba, Chairman Abakaliki LGA whil staying that cervical cancer is most common in the world, urged women to aveil themselves the opportunity to be screened.
The Team Led of BERWO, Mrs Nkechi Echiegu stated that January is the cervical cancer awareness month, decrying the increasing cases that needs to be handled
Echiegu said ” We had to partner with her office collaborated with BERWO and medical women association, Ebonyi chapter to screen women of cervical cancer and give health talks on general cancer issues with other health related issues.
She stated that at Elinwau general hospital Abakaliki, women were drawn from the 13LGAs of the state within the reproduction age range of 25 to 65 years.
