BY VICTOR NWEGEDE
The Medical Director, National Obstetric Fistula Centre Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Professor John Akuma Obuna has disclosed that cervical cancer is at high rate nowadays, following the awareness campaigns by the centre and other aiding organisations across the nation.
Obuna, who is a Professor of Obstetric and Gynaecology stated this in interview with journalists at Abakaliki during the 10th President Installation and Award Ceremony by Medical Women's Association of Nigeria, Ebonyi State Chapter.
He noted that there is cervical cancer prevalance in the state, saying the awareness campaign embarked by his office and other organisations has made many women to be coming up for screening, including the breast cancer for proper treatment if the case turns positive.
"The cervical cancer rate now is high, and why we get many cases is because we create more awareness. Those women that are dying in the village was ignorance of our centre and treatment. But our awareness campaign has made many women and girls to be coming up for cervical cancer screening and as well as breast cancer screening," Prof Obuna said.
He explained that the National Obstetric Centre, Abakaliki specializes on the Fistula and Cervical Cancer Management and Protection, and the hospital has screened the largest number for women breast and cervical cancer in the whole of South East region of Nigeria free of charge.
The centre, according to the Medical Director, always embarks medical outreaches, even go to other South East states on invitations by some organisations and churches to screen for breast and cervical cancer, and this contributes to reduce the cases as those who turned positive, have been screened, managed and treated free of charge.
Prof Obuna also stated that the centre specializes on screening and treating prostrate cancer for men folks; enumerated their causes and symptoms.
"We also screen for prostrate cancer for men. People are now having awareness to come, and immediately, they are screened, we detect more, that's why it is of the high rate.
"The causes surrounding these are that we are not eating well. Many girls are now getting involved in pre-marital sex. Many people are getting exposed to unprotected sexual intercourse even before the age of 16. When you get involved in curtis - sexual exposure before reaching 16 years of age, you are more likely to have a cervical cancer.
"Many people are no longer playing safe. We have promiscuous men and women, and you know this cervical cancer come as result of what we called human papilo-virus, which is sexually transmitted. If a woman or man has many sexual partners, she/he will get it from another partner and give it to the husband/wife.
"Many women are also involved in many sexual partners. These are some things that cause the increase of cervical cancer.
"In case of the breast cancer, the incident is also increasing because of lifestyle. Many women are now eating fried foods. When you eat fried foods, the chance of getting breast cancer is very high. Many women are no longer breastfeeding their babies. In those our mothers and grandmothers breastfeeding even two years. Breastfeeding protects women from breast cancer. So, this is the reason the incidence increase.
"For cervical cancer, it can be prevented. When you are sexual exposured, and have attained 21years, you can come for cervical cancer, subsequently, every three years you come for prevention.
"But when cervical cancer has occurred, you can start having symptoms like far-smelling virgina discharge, virgina bleeding - when a woman has sex with her husband, she starts bleeding. It is called contact bleeding. This means it has already advanced. The chances of treating that woman is now low because the thing has advanced.
"For breast cancer, woman supposed to examine themselves when they are taking their bath. Just touch your breast, and if you discover any strange feeling, come to the hospital for examination and proper screening. If you see unusual thing on your breast rush to the hospital for screening.
"For fistula, if urine or feces is leaking from your private part, come to National Obstetric Centre at Abakaliki, we will treat you free of charge," Prof Obuna said.
Also, the new President of the Medical Women's Association of Nigeria, Ebonyi State, Dr Ugochukwu Chinyem Madubueze said that the association is passionate about to rescue cervical cancer victims, and other health related issues with mothers and children, by always carrying out massive campaign to create awareness for them to be screened before treatment if found positive.
Dr Madubueze, who is a Public Health Physician, said, the association within the week screened over 200 women at the National Obstetric Fistula Centre (NOFIC), where positive cases for cervical cancer were found and assured that the victims would be treated free of charge.
On her part, the immediate past President of the Medical Women's Association of Nigeria in the state,
Onyinye Uche Anyanwu, a Consultant Pedastrician, also noted that cervical cancer has been a prevalent case in Ebonyi.
According to her, "one of the prevalent diseases among women is cervical cancer. Periodically, at least four times in a year, every quarter, we have free cervical cancer screening, where we advertise and women come at a designated point for cervical cancer screening. Those who turned out positive, are offered treatment and most times, sponsored by the medical women."
She said that the medical women normally carry out medical outreaches in the rural area, to sensitise rural dwellers on health issues even though there is restriction of fund most times.
"Most times we task ourselves, to do the medical outreaches. Still, when the cost to carry out the outreach is overwhelming, we may not do that. That's why we often times, partner with agencies like IHP, Save Home, others and even some churches in the rural areas will call us to come and offer the services," she said.
On gender based violence, Anyanwu said that the association has been doing everything to ensure women enjoy their rights and expressed optimism, that her successor would do greater things than her while championing women and children's health related issues and their rights in partnership with FIDA - Federation of Women Lawyers, IHP and other human rights groups.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of Nigeria Medical Association, NMA, Dr Umezurike Benjamin and Prof Uzoma MaryRose Agwu, a Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist in interview with journalists totally condemned gender based violence of any form, being it rape, battery, physical violence, intimate partner violence, among others.
