Association targets 600 indigent women for free cervical cancer screening
The Medical Women Association of Nigeria (MWAN), Rivers chapter, says it is targeting 600 indigent women for free cervical screening in the state in 2021 to reduce the risk of the disease.
The President MWAN Rivers chapter, Dr Vetty Agala, made this known in Abuja on Wednesday, adding that the association would target at least 150 women in the first quarter of the year.
She, however, said that the association had commenced free cervical cancer screening from Jan. 18 and it would last till Feb. 12 as part of activities to mark the 2021 World Cancer Day.
The official said that the outreach to mark the World Cancer Day would target 150 indigent women in some parts of the state.
According to her, MWAN wants as many women to know that they can reduce the risk of cervical cancer by knowing their status.
She noted that “MWAN Rivers had free Pap Smear screening for 171 indigent women as part of activities to mark cervical cancer awareness in January.
“And to mark World Cancer Day in February, 100 women would benefit from free mammogram, to be drawn from eight local government areas of the state.
“We visited and supported some breast and cervical cancer patients at Rivers State University Teaching Hospital and the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital as part of World Cancer Day in 2020.
“In addition, the association carried out free medical outreaches in Rukpakwolusi, Obuama, Woji and Aminigboko communities in Rivers and provided health information, screening, treatment and referral services for common illnesses.
“We also did advocacy and sensitisation to traditional rulers, community leaders on elimination of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and other forms of Gender Based Violence (GBV).’’
Agala said that 2020 was an interesting year that posed a number of challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the measures put forward to control it.
She said MWAN leveraged on the opportunity to support government at the various state levels by volunteering as members of the Emergency Operation Centres.
“MWAN Rivers, in partnership with Association of Public Health Physicians of Nigeria, Rivers branch, held a risk communication workshop on ethical and responsible reporting for media personnel.”
She explained that 10,000 risk communication flyers were donated to the Rivers Ministry of Health to aid in mobilisation and the participants included 34 reporters from social media, radio, television and print media houses.
The association organised many media engagements on COVID-19 Risk Communication and Infection Prevention from March till August 2020.
“COVID-19 sensitisation at Igbisikalama (waterfront) community, MWAN Rivers donated a megaphone and a speaker to aid in dissemination of messages to people of the community.
“Talks on coronavirus infection and how to prevent it were given. Correct use of face mask and proper hand washing techniques was demonstrated.”
On school health interventions, she said, the association held virtual celebration of Children’s Day with maiden Essay Competition in May 2020.
“We set up school health clubs in four secondary schools and distributed sanitary pads to 1,000 girls in four secondary schools.’’
The official said MWAN held screening and management of diabetes at different levels of care, training of health workers on cervical screening and training on medical interventions in management
of Sexual and GBV.
“Also on Maternal and Child Services, MWAN Rivers adopted a primary health facility to institute interventions that can improve utilisation of Maternal, Neonatal and Child health services.
“This includes our Adopt A Mother Project (MAAM) that rewards Antenatal Care (ANC) and delivery service utilisation in the facility.”
The association president said the group would continue with its basic activities in 2021 to boost healthcare services on school intervention programmes, prevention of Sexual and GBV/HIV, cervical cancer, HIV Self Testing, among others.
“We will also continue with activities to improve maternal, newborn and child health, particularly in two communities around MWAN-supported primary health facilities,’’ she added
