Women at Oyoko in the Sekyere East District of Ashanti Region have undergone free cervical cancer screening and health education. Health NGO, F. O. Ofosu-Barko Foundation, collaborated with Westphalian Medical Center to undertake the exercise.

 The Medical Students Association of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology provided field support. Medical officers were surprised to find residents had trooped to the event grounds at the break of dawn.

Cervical cancer is infection which causes cancer cells to form in the cervix. The World Health Organization says cervical cancer is the fourth most frequent of cancers in women.

 An estimated 570,000 new cases, representing 6.6 per cent of female cancers have been reported in 2018. In Ghana, it is estimated about 3,052 new cervical cancer cases were recorded in 2012.

 It represents 32.7 per cent of the total cancer cases among women in the country.

“Death from cervical cancer could be reduced through a comprehensive approach that includes prevention, early diagnosis, effective screening and treatment programmes,” said Rachel Agyemang Boateng, Head of Project Committee of the Medical Students Association.    

“There are currently vaccines that protect against common cancer-causing types of human papilloma virus and can significantly reduce the risk of cervical cancer, ”she added. 

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

‘’Unfortunately knowledge on it is very low,” said Dr. Adu Appiah-Kubi an obstetrician and gynaecologist at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital.

The foundation which focuses on rural health honours the legacy of late Dr. F.O Ofosu-Barko, renowned obstetrician and gynaecologist.