Cervical cancer killing Ugandan women at alarming rate

Oct 23, 2013

At least 2,464 women are dying in Ugandan from cervical cancer annually. Over 3,577 more are diagnosed with the disease that has become Uganda’s leading killer cancer of women.

By Anne Mugisa and Agnes Kyotalengerire

At least 2,464 women are dying in Ugandan from cervical cancer annually. Over 3,577 more are diagnosed with the disease that has become Uganda’s leading killer cancer of women.
 

This was revealed by the PACE Executive Director, Zach Akinyemi, while donating equipment for early detection and treatment of pre-cancerous cells on the cervix.

PACE is an acronym for the Programme for Accessible Health Communication and Education (PACE).
 

A total of 20 sets of equipment called the cryo therapy machines were given to 20 private health centres on the ProFam network, in different parts of the country. Akinyemi said 20 machines more are to be donated by the end of this year.

These clinics will also act as referral centres for others that do not have the equipment for the early detection and treatment of the disease, Akinyemi said.
 

Prior to this, the country had only 15 cryo therapy machines in 14 government referral hospitals and one health centre 4 in Nakasongola, according to Dr. Collins Tusingwire, Acting Commissioner for health Services in the Ministry of Health.
 

The 40 cryo therapy machines are a donation by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. PACE said it is targeting at least 70,000 women for early screening and treatment over the next four years.

It said that each of the five regions of Uganda will get eight machines which will make accessibility easier and cheaper at 5,000 for screening and sh15,000 for treatment. It will be a little more in urban areas, Akinyemi said.
 

According to Akinyemi, cervical cancer is preventable provided it is detected early and halted. The new machines, he said will aid health workers in the health centres to detect precancerous cells so that they could be killed before developing into cancer. “This will reduce maternal deaths in the country,” Akinyemi said
 

People most at risk of cervical cancer are those who start sexual activity early and those with multiple sexual partners.
 

According to Irene Mwesige of Joy Medical Centre, Ndeeba, the machines will greatly boost the cervical cancer eradication fight in the country. The Screening has been largely visual and the suspected cases referred to bigger hospitals.
 

With these machines, the precancerous lesions would be spotted early enough and tackled. Those whose cervix is covered by precancerous lesions to the tune of less than 75% will be eligible for cryo therapy. Those whose cervix is above 75% covered by the lesions will be referred for more complex management.
 

She noted that while most of those screened have been aged 30 years and above, the disease is increasingly seen in younger women. HIV is a complicating factor too, she said.
 

The clinics chosen for the machines had big client numbers, exhibited skills and easy accessibility. Four of them symbolically received part of the equipment from PACE at the Raider Hotel in Seeta.
 

They include, St. Joseph Domiciliary Gayaza, St Martin Domiciliary Rakai, Joy Medical center and Mukono health center IV.
 

Justine Mpungu of St Martin’s clinic said their establishment receiving 3 to 4 cervical cancer cases monthly and referring them to Masaka hospital. Alex Namaala a nursing officer at Mukono health center IV also said four to five suspected cases report to the centre monthly and are referred to Mulago hospital.

“With the machines available, we hope a good number of people will benefit. They will also help cater for women who cannot afford to access treatment at expensive private facilities,” Namaala said.
 

 

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