OUTAPI - The Ministry of Health and Social Services said cervical cancer is the second-most common cancer after breast cancer in Namibia.

Deputy health minister Esther Muinjangue stated yesterday that nearly 236 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer, and 135 die from the disease each year.

She made the remarks during the commemoration of World Cancer Day and the Cervical Cancer Awareness event at Outapi in the Omusati region. Muinjangue said January is commemorated as World Cervical Cancer Awareness Month, while World Cancer Day is commemorated on 4 February each year.  “It is a highly preventable public health problem which can be eliminated if women have access to available screening and treatment services,” she noted.

There are different types of cancer, but all types of cancer are preventable and treatable, especially with early detection and screening. Screening plays a crucial role in identifying cancer in its early stages when it is most manageable.

“Cervical cancer is a global public health burden, and is ranked fourth of all cancers,” said Muinjangue. She added that since 2018, public health facilities have screened 138 992 women using Visual Inspection with Acetic Acid (VIA) and Pap smear screening methods. However, there remains a significant number of women who have not been screened yet.

She said women living with HIV are at
an increased risk of developing cervical cancer, as HIV increases the chances of developing cervical cancer six-fold.

“Another campaign is scheduled to commence today in the Outapi district and will continue until Friday, 2 February 2024, while over 1 500 women are anticipated to undergo screening during both campaigns. I, therefore, urge all women from the age of 20 to 49 to visit our health facilities,
and get screened for cervical cancer. Let us join hands to reduce the cancer burden in our country,” advised Muindjangue.

According to the Global Cancer Observatory, over 300 000 women died from confirmed cancer of the cervix in 2020 alone. - vkaapanda@nepc.com.na