Cervical cancer in Bugesera lower than expected

Bugesera–The number of women who are susceptible to cervical cancer in Bugesera District are fewer than previously thought.According to results of a screening exercise conducted at Mayange Sector on Tuesday, only 1% of women aged between 30 and 50 years are susceptible to cervical cancer.The screening was organised and sponsored by Mayange Millennium Development Village, as part of its target to reach the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015.At least 600 women in Mayange sector of child bearing age were screened, according to Francoise Niyikama, Sexual Reproductive/Maternal and Newborn Health facilitator at Mayange.She said the exercise was meant to decrease the chances of cervical cancer, adding that it also revealed limited knowledge of necessity of cervical cancer screening among the women.“Women still lack in awareness, low cases notwithstanding. We facilitate treatment after screening. Screening reveals other diseases that are also treated,” she said.“By screening women we are in right direction towards realising our goals in MDGs. Health issues are being addressed one by one, and we shall beat the deadline”.Consolee Maribori, a midwife at King Faisal Hospital who was part of the medical team, told The New Times that Bugesera, more than any district in the country, showed low potential cases of cervical cancer, attributing it to low cases of child marriages in the district as opposed to other communities.“Girls get married in Bugesera when of age...at least most girls are married above 18 years. This is not the case in districts like Kayonza, where they get married or involve in sex, well under 18 years,” she said.“Research has it that a woman, who gets married young, has higher chances of developing cancer. So, timely marriages make Bugesera women less susceptible”.Venansia Nyiranzaboninka, 43, a mother of seven said that she was screened for the first time in her life.“I know nothing about cancer...I am here because they told me women of my age had benefits in the screening. Sometimes, we are victims of ignorance,” she said in jovial mood after she was found to be healthy.A survey conducted in 2010 revealed that a total of 2,476 cancer cases were registered in Rwanda with 312 being children aged below 18 years.

National

Cervical cancer in Bugesera lower than expected