The Keta Municipal Hospital in the Volta Region has ended this year’s cervical cancer awareness month of January with free screening exercise.

The screening exercise was also used to educate the public on the causes, preventions, management and the effects of the disease.

Dr Martha Ampadu, a Gynaecologist at the Keta Municipal Hospital, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency, said that cervical cancer was deadly and the public should prioritise their health and get screened against cancer and other diseases.

Cervical cancer always occurs in the cervix, which is the lower part of the uterus in the female reproductive system which typically develops over time, and it is often caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV) and dangers associated with this disease include death,” she said.

She said that other risk factors that can increase the likelihood of developing cervical cancer include sexual intercourse at a tender age, having multiple sexual partners, weakened immune system, smoking, poor diet and lack of exercise, among others.

Dr Ampadu explained that some common symptoms of cervical cancer include abnormal vaginal bleeding between monthly periods and after sex, pain during sex, unusual vaginal discharge, bad odour, weight loss and fatigue, bleeding after menopause, pelvic pains, loss of appetite and others.

“The only way to detect cervical cancer is through a routine test or screening to check for abdominal cell changes in the cervix and to check for the present of high risk HPV types that can cause cervical cancer and that was the aim for our screening for the month.”

She said that some methods of preventing cervical cancer was by through Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine which was recommended people between the aged 12 and 26, and regular screening, practicing safe sex and limited number of sexual partners, avoid early sex and smoking, as well as engaging in regular exercise.

 Dr Ampadu said that over 200 women were screened for the cervical cancer disease within the month of January, “and from Monday those who will come for the screening will be made to pay for it.”

She appealed to the public to as a matter of urgency prioritise their health and get screened as early as possible for early detection and treatment to prevent any unforeseen circumstances that could lead to death of the victims.

She urged all to visit the hospital with a valid National Health Insurance Card regularly when they suspect any bad feeling within the body for urgent attention and vaccination.

Some beneficiaries GNA interviewed expressed gratitude to the health workers and thanked them for the kind gestures. The theme of this year’s cervical cancer awareness month was, “screen, learn, vaccinate.”