Five hundred seventy thousand new cervical cancer cases of cervical cancer were recorded nationwide in the last six years, up from 3,052 previously.

Ghana Health statistics indicate it represents 6.6 per cent of reported female cancers over the period.

The Medical Students Association (MSA) of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) is therefore embarking on a project to quell the trend by creating awareness and supporting women to undergo cervical cancer screening.

The World Health Organization estimates 5,000 Ghanaian women will be diagnosed of cervical cancer annually by 2025.

More worrying, half of them will die.

Cervical cancer which causes cancer cells to form in the cervix is the fourth most frequent of cancers in women.

“85 percent of the people who have the disease are from sub Saharan Africa.  Out of the 9 out 10 people who die from cervical cancer are from the sub region,” Dr. Adu Appiah Kubi, an obstetrician and gynecologist, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital noted

Surprisingly, cervical cancer does not typically cause noticeable symptoms in the early stages of the disease. 

“If a woman starts having vaginal bleeding after sex or offensive vaginal discharge and also urinates or defecates on herself then it has reached an advance stage.” He pointed out.

Photo:Project Committee Head, Rachel Agyemang Boateng.

In countries where screening programmes are available, diagnosis of cervical cancer at an early stage and access to effective treatment can significantly improve survival rates. 

Routine Pap screening is needed to check for abnormal cells in the cervix, so they can be monitored and treated as early as possible.

“Now the WHO advocates a combination of HPV DNA with Pap smear and that is expensive. With the conventional one it cost around GHC 100 to 120 for each test.” He said.

The project, dubbed: “smear the word, let’s create cervivors” aims at raising awareness on the disease as well as enable underprivileged women to go through screening.

The students are collaborating with doctors at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital on projects in Amansie West and Sekyere East Districts.

Over 1,000 brochures in English and Twi have been distributed under the initiative.

 “So far the group has been able to raise GH¢20,000 to enable especially underprivileged women to undergo screening and vaccination,” said Samira Tanko Imran,who heads the fundraising committee.

Project Committee Head, Rachel Agyemang Boateng,says 500 women are being targeted for screening over the period.

“60 women have been screened so far, though many proved negative some were found to be positive, and we’ve referred them to the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, ” she noted.

Ms Agyemang Boateng indicated each year the KNUST MSA undertake a project aimed at giving back to society.

Conditions covered in previous projects include curable cancer in children, known medically as Burkitts Lymphoma, as well as cleft palate and lip repairs.

Others are imperforate anus or anorectal malformation which leads to children’s inability to pass stool.