| From: |
Adeyemo Gabriel [ profile ] |
| Subject: |
Two-thirds of South African women at risk for cervical cancer
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| Sent: |
Apr 6th, 2011 - 05:52:58 |
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Source:* Times (Johannesburg)*
http://www.citizen.co.za/citizen/content/en/citizen/local-news?oid=179514&sn=Detail&pid=146823&Two-thirds-of-SA-women...
Fellow Advocate
The head of the National Health Laboratory Service and of anatomical
pathology at Witwatersrand University is warning of a rise in human
papillomavirus (HPV)-related diseases among South African women. Martin Hale
said data from the World Health Organization (WHO) show increasing incidence
of cervical cancer and other cancers associated with the STD. "Information
from a recent WHO/[Institut Catala d'Oncolgia] report on HPV and cervical
cancer shows that South Africa has a population of 16.84 million women ages
15 years and older who are at risk of developing cervical cancer," said
Hale.
Using July 2010 estimates from Statistics South Africa, this amounts to
roughly 65 percent of women in the country. "Cervical cancer is the
second-most frequent cancer among women in South Africa, and the second-most
frequent cancer among women between 15 and 44 years of age," said Hale.
"Current estimates indicate that every year 5,743 women are diagnosed with
cervical cancer and more than 3,000 die from the disease." Limited access to
cervical cancer information and resources, as well as the HIV pandemic, are
contributing to the increase.
Hale said females are more susceptible depending on their age at first
intercourse, the number of children they have had, and whether their immune
system has been weakened. "Public education, a regular Pap smear and
modifying human behavior will assist in mitigating the rise in cervical
cancer cases," said Hale. Vaccines against HPV "have the potential to reduce
the incidence of cervical and other anogenital cancers ... however the
debate is still raging on how, to whom and whether the should be
administered," he noted.
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I think if an average South African woman cannot afford the cost for a Pap's
smear test, then the doctors there should introduce the visual inspection
method of screening HPV. it saves cost and time.
For more information, please click on the link above.
--
Many Thanks
Yours' in Prevention Science
Adeyemo Damilare Gabriel
Regional Focal Point - West Africa
Global Youth Coalition on HIV/AID (GYCA)
+234-80-6798-7317 | gabriel (at) gyca.org
www.gyca.org | www.tigweb.org
GYCA is a youth-led global network of more than 4,500 young leaders and
adult allies working on youth and HIV/AIDS in 150 countries world-wide.
GYCA's mission is to empower young leaders with the skills, knowledge,
resources and opportunities they need to scale up HIV/AIDS interventions
amongst their peers.
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