By Kalu Idika
One Hundred women in Nasarawa State are benefitting from a free cervical cancer screening organized by Nasarawa State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NAPHDA) in collaboration with Pathfinder International, a non-governmental organization as part of efforts to eliminate the disease in the State.
The two days exercise held at Comprehensive Primary Healthcare Center, Kwandere, Lafia, the State capital was inaugurated by the First Lady of Nasarawa State, Hajiya Silifat Abdullahi Sule.
The Program Coordinator of Pathfinder International in Nasarawa State, Fatima Maha in her remarks noted that the screening was part of activities to commemorate the world cervical cancer day often observed every seventeenth of November every year.
She appreciated the State government for providing enabling environment for partners to contribute their quarters towards improving the health and wellbeing of the citizens, particularly, women and girls in the State.
Fatima Maha stated that protecting women and the girl child from cervical cancer is one of the priorities of Pathfinder International in which it is implementing through the HPV Advocacy and Community Engagement Project in the State.
The State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Gaza Gwamna represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Dr. John Damina commended Pathfinder International for supporting the State to organize the screening for the 100 women.
The Commissioner of Health who tasked women to avail themselves for the screening reiterated the commitment of the state government in providing qualitative health care for the citizens.
The Nasarawa State First Lady, Hajiya Silifat Abdullahi Sule who was excited with the large turn out of women for the exercise urged women to continue to prioritize their health and wellbeing of their young girls.
She reassured the women of the unwavering commitment of Governor Abdullahi Sule to sustain all his women friendly programmes and policies.
In a goodwill message on behalf of other partners, the State Coordinator of World Health Organization, Dr. Bosede Ezekwe noted that Nigeria could eliminate the burden of cervical cancer through consistent cervical cancer screening of women of reproductive age and vaccination of young girls.
“Today’s outreach represents not just the routine health activities that we know, but it marks a powerful action to eliminate cervical cancer from amongst our women. Cervical Cancer is a public health disease that is preventable, but many of our women suffer and die from this disease.
Dr. Bosede Ezekwe enjoined parents and community leaders to mobilize their young girls to get the HPV vaccine to protect them from being infected by the virus that causes cervical cancer.
The State Executive Secretary of Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr. Usman Iskilu Saleh and the Sangarin Kwandere, Alhaji Ahmadu Almakura commended the State First Lady for championing campaign aimed to improving the health and wellbeing of women in the State.
They said this effort by the first lady has not only improved health outcomes in the State but it has attracted the attention of the nation’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu who recently urged other first ladies to emulate the innovative strategy of Hajiya Silifat Abdullahi Sule.
In an interview, two women screened during the exercise, Marvelous Andrew and Grace Alaku Bitrus expressed appreciation to the organizers of the event for the free life saving cervical cancer screening.
“A lot of people are out there who don’t have this opportunity but for me, i am really grateful,” Marvelous Andrew noted.
“In fact, i feel good and am feel ok. As i here this thing on radio, i so appreciate it that this our mother is trying to help us”, Grace Alaku stated.
The theme for this year’s World Cervical cancer day is “Act Now: Eliminate Cervical Cancer”
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