First Lady walks talk in cervical cancer fight First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa being screened for cerival cancer at United Bulawayo hospitals during her national tour on cervical cancer awareness campaign. Picture by John Manzongo

Tendai Rupapa Senior Reporter
“It is saddening to note that some people only come to understand the dangers of this silent killer after losing their beloved ones. It is with no doubt that if cancers are detected early, in most cases they can be treated.” Siphile Khumalo, (32) from Mzilikazi drags her feet, with pain written all over her face as she walks down the dusty strip road inside Mpilo Central Hospital heading towards the Visual Inspection Acetic Acid and Cervicography (VIAC).

This is where patients are screened for cervical and breast cancer for free. She sits with difficulty on the bench outside the mobile clinic from the Ministry of Health and Child Care which is being used on outreach programmes.

Khumalo listens attentively to the First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa as she addresses hordes of women who had come for screening. The First Lady thanks the women for heeding to her calls for screening.

Since she was showing signs of agony, Moreblessing Sibanda, a nurse, from the VIAC department told her not to join the queue but to enter into the mobile clinic as the first patient.

Before she could enter into the mobile clinic, Khumalo went closer to where Amai Mnangagwa and other women were discussing. She told the First Lady that she felt encouraged on hearing how she (the First Lady) had been screened for cervical and breast cancer at United Bulawayo Hospital (UBH) the previous day.

Khumalo narrated how she has been living in pain for some time but could not gather the courage to visit the hospital to be checked for cervical cancer. Amai Mnangagwa congratulated her for heeding the call to get screened. Natasha Nyoni (25) from Mzilikazi who also came for screening, said she felt encouraged by the First lady’s move to get screened.

“Considering her position as the country’s First Lady, she could have just encouraged women to get screened through talking but led by example and got screened at a public hospital,” she said.

“So I asked myself, why I can’t do the same hence the decision I made today to get checked.” Another woman, 18-year-old Nomonde Nkomo from Makokoba said she heard from her neighbour who works as a nurse that the First Lady was in town and had brought a mobile clinic for cancer screening. She seized the opportunity to ascertain causes behind the severe pain she experiences during her menstrual period.

“I experience severe pains during my menstrual period and I do not know what is causing the excruciating pains hence the need for me to get screened for cervical cancer as well. I also informed my four friends of the good news and they are also here to get screened.” Siphathweyinkosi Moyo (33) also applauded the First Lady for taking the lead.

“I want to thank the First Lady for taking the first step and now we are following in her footsteps as we are also here for cervical and breast cancer screening,” she said.

“I do not feel any pains but I decided to get checked early because they say cervical and breast cancer can be treated if detected early.” Another woman who spoke on condition of anonymity and was in the queue to get checked for cervical cancer said she was nervous because she used to insert herbs in her privates to entice men.

“We were told that women who insert foreign objects in their privates are prone to cervical cancer. My sister and I used to do all that. We would put all sorts of herbs in our bodies to entice men. I am just praying that I am not VIAC positive. I am really scared,” she said.

She is not alone, many women dread the process of cervical cancer screening as they are of the view that the process is painful. Even when Amai Mnangagwa was screened by Blessing Gowera, sister-in-charge at UBH VIAC department, she was also “dreading” the procedure.

After the VIAC procedure had been explained to her while she lay on the bed, the First Lady jokingly said to Gowera that: “a gynaecological spectrum looks painful.” In response, Gowera told her that it was not painful but just a “bit uncomfortable.” The room was then cleared and we all went out leaving Gowera conducting the procedures on Amai Mnangagwa.

When she came out after the procedure there were loud cheers from women who sang and danced thanking Amai Mnangagwa for leading from the front in the fight against cancer. The First Lady implored all women to do the same.

“It is saddening to note that some people only come to understand the dangers of this silent killer after losing their beloved ones. It is with no doubt that if cancers are detected early, in most cases they can be treated,” she said.

“It is a silent killer emanating from the fact that you may not see any signs or feel any pains during the early stages. Unfortunately when you start seeing signs and symptoms, it is often too late so we must be a responsible nation.” The First Lady’s actions are a sign that she is a woman of her word.

Speaking at the 20th Organisation of African First Ladies against HIV and AIDS (OAFLA) Ordinary General Assembly in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia early this year, she vowed to lead Zimbabwe’s fight against HIV and Aids. Her first steps on the ground have seen her setting up mobile clinics across the country and intensifying awareness campaigns.

“Personally, I undertake to champion the fight by going out there to the remote and disadvantaged areas with mobile clinics to improve access to health services,” said the First Lady.

“I will also scale up awareness campaigns through mobilisation of critical stakeholders who include traditional leaders, the chiefs and church organisations. These will assist in raising awareness in communities on child marriages, child abuse and child survival.”

While addressing delegates, hospital staff and patients at Gweru Provincial Hospital recently, Amai Mnangagwa said, “I went to Ethiopia where I met first ladies from other countries in Africa. They were happy to see me because in the past Zimbabwe did not attend these meeting.”

“We discussed the challenges affecting our respective countries regarding cancer as well as HIV and Aids. I told them about the situation here at home, providing statistics in the process. We shared ideas on how to curb these diseases and at the end most first ladies had gathered around me trying to understand why we have been doing well in fighting these diseases. I thank the Ministry of Health and our friends who provide aid enabling us to have an impressive record in fighting diseases.”

Cervical cancer affects the lower part of the uterus (womb). Cervical cancer is strongly linked to infection with a virus. In this case, the virus is the human papilloma virus (HPV). HPV can be spread from person to person through skin-to-skin contact, including sex.

Women living with HIV are at high risk for getting cervical intra-epithelial neoplasia (CIN). CIN is the growth of abnormal, pre-cancerous cells in the cervix. Over time, CIN can progress to invasive cervical cancer, in which the cancer cells grow into deeper layers of the cervix. Cervical cancer screening is supposed to be a regular part of a woman’s health check-up.

It is said the number of deaths from cervical cancer can be reduced because early detection increases chances of treatment. Over 8 500 women have been screened for cervical cancer since First Lady partnered the Ministry of Health and Child Care in a campaign against the disease last week.

Health and Child Care Minister Dr David Parirenyatwa acknowledged the role being played by the First Lady in the fight against cancer.

“We want to thank the First Lady for leading by example and taking the lead in fighting this disease. Her programmes are people centred and as the ministry, we promise to work hand in hand with her,” he said.

UNFPA assistant representative Ms Abigail Msemburi commended her for fighting against the disease.

“Globally cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer which is often detected when it is too late to be cured resulting in the deaths of women mostly in the prime of their lives,” she said.

“We want to express our sincere gratitude to the First Lady for the commitment she has shown in raising awareness to the problem of cervical cancer.”

According to statistics, every year 2 270 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer and 1 451 die from the disease. Cervical cancer ranks as the first most frequent cancer among women in Zimbabwe and the second most frequent cancer among women between 15 and 44 years of age.

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