Centre donates machine to FCTA to fight cervical cancer and improve women’s health
On Monday, December 16, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) took an important step in the fight against cervical cancer by launching the first-ever colposcopy centre in its general hospitals. This facility, donated by Nordica Fertility Centre, aims to improve early detection and treatment of cervical cancer, which is a major health concern for women in Nigeria.
Dolapo Fasawe, the Mandate Secretary for Health Services and the Environment Secretariat, shared in a statement that the centre would serve as a referral hub for both public and private hospitals in the FCT. She emphasized that the colposcopy procedure provides a way to detect and treat early changes in the cervix, helping prevent cervical cancer before it advances.
Cervical cancer is the third most common cancer in Nigeria and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women aged 15 to 44. In 2020 alone, Nigeria saw 12,000 new cases and 8,000 deaths due to the disease. This is why the colposcopy centre is such a crucial development for improving women’s health in the territory.
A colposcopy is a diagnostic procedure where doctors use a special tool called a colposcope to closely examine the cervix, vagina, and vulva. This helps doctors find abnormal cells or lesions that could eventually turn into cervical cancer.
The disease is mainly caused by an infection with high-risk strains of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV), which is preventable and treatable if detected early. Unfortunately, many women in Nigeria are not aware of the importance of early screening or HPV vaccination, leading to late diagnoses and costly treatments.
Fasawe urged women of reproductive age to prioritize regular screenings, such as pap smears and colposcopy exams, which can detect cancer before it becomes dangerous. She explained that cervical cancer develops slowly over 10 to 15 years, providing a crucial window for early intervention.
She also expressed gratitude to Nordica Fertility Centre for the donation and thanked the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, for his commitment to improving healthcare services, including supporting HPV vaccination efforts to reduce cervical cancer cases.
As part of the initiative, the Medical Director of Wuse General Hospital, Oluseyi Ashaolu, announced that all female staff at FCT general hospitals would receive free colposcopy services until January 2025. This effort encourages women to make use of the new colposcopy centre, where specialists will perform the procedures and offer treatments like thermal ablation or surgeries when needed.
Ashaolu stressed the importance of early screening and treatment, calling colposcopy an effective and reliable way to detect abnormal growths and prevent cervical cancer. He encouraged all women to take advantage of this life-saving service.
