Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Taonga Sabola
Published on 2024-03-30 18:48:45
In the rural village of Kamwe, in Mzimba North, Judith Mkandawire received a devastating diagnosis of cervical cancer in 2010. As an HIV-positive woman, the news felt like a death sentence. However, after undergoing surgery and treatment, Mkandawire is now thriving 14 years later.
The catalyst for Mkandawire’s decision to get screened for cervical cancer was the visit of the Coalition of Women living with HIV and Aids to her area. They encouraged women to get screened, emphasizing the importance of early detection. Mkandawire highlights the lack of access to screening facilities in rural areas, noting that women in Kamwe are asked to travel to Rumphi, a costly and inconvenient journey for many.
Lonely Nthanda, another cervical cancer survivor from Lilongwe, shares a similar story of late diagnosis. She emphasizes the importance of proximity to screening facilities, as many women are deterred by distance and lack of resources to travel for screenings.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a common sexually transmitted infection that can lead to cervical cancer. Women living with HIV and Aids are at a higher risk of developing cervical cancer, making early screening essential.
Despite the challenges, there are promising developments in the fight against cervical cancer. WHO has set ambitious targets to eliminate cervical cancer by 2030, focusing on vaccination, screening, and treatment. Dr. Lameck Chinula emphasizes the importance of prevention and early detection, highlighting the window of opportunity to identify women at increased risk.
However, progress in Malawi has been slow, with limited resources and reliance on development partners. Dr. George Chilinda stresses the need for increased screening to detect cervical cancer at an early stage when treatment options are more effective. Health officials, including Ministry of Health Expanded Programme on Immunisation Manager Dr. Mike Chisema, acknowledge the challenges but emphasize the potential impact of vaccination and screening programs.
The strategic plan for Malawi’s fight against cervical cancer requires significant funding, estimated at $74,474,582. Health Committee of Parliament Chairperson Matthews Ngwale calls for government commitment to ring-fence resources for cancer screening programs. Health Minister Khumbize Kandodo Chiponda admits that more needs to be done in terms of vaccination, screening, and treatment, emphasizing the importance of community involvement and awareness campaigns.
With 3000 preventable deaths from cervical cancer in Malawi every year, the urgency to address the issue is clear. As Dr. Chilinda aptly puts it, there is nothing more painful than telling a woman that there is nothing the hospital can do because the cancer was detected too late. It is time for concerted efforts to make cervical cancer a disease of the past in Malawi.
Read the original article on The Times
