By Samira Larbie
Accra, April 22, GNA – The Ghana Muslims Mission (GMM) Greater Accra and Ar-Rahman Ghana Muslim Clinic have appealed to the Government make cervical cancer screening accessible and affordable through a comprehensive national programme.
Dr. Abdul Mutalib Adjei, Medical Oncologist at Ar-Rahman Clinic, said this was crucial as cervical cancer was one of the few cancers that when detected early could be treated.
He made the call when the GMM Greater Accra and Ar-Rahman Ghana Muslim Clinic, in collaboration with the Cancer Support Network Foundation (CSNF), organised a free cervical cancer screening to climax the 2025 Eid-Ul-Fitr celebrations.
It was on the theme: “Improving Outcomes Through Prevention and Early Detection.”
He said, “Cervical cancer is one of the few cancers you can screen for and detect at an early stage, treating it to save many lives.” So, if there is a comprehensive national policy for screening everywhere, where people can visit and get screened, many lives will be saved.”
Dr Adjei said this practice done in many Western countries had reduced their mortality drastically because cases were detected early and treated. “But here, because we don’t have such a policy, we have to specifically target women, educate them at our own cost due to the expensive nature of screening,” he said.
The Medical Oncologist advised the public to take advantage of such screening exercises to talk to health professionals as it saved cost and allowed for early detection.
Cervical cancer is a cancer that develops in the cervix, the lower part of the uterus.
It is primarily caused by persistent infection with the human papillomavirus (HPV), a sexually transmitted virus.
In Ghana, cervical cancer is a significant health concern, with an estimated 2,797 women diagnosed annually and 1,699 deaths from the disease.
It is the second most frequent cancer among women in Ghana, ranking second among women between 15 and 44 years of age.
Mr. Blaise Ackom, Secretary of CSNF and a Nurse at Madina Polyclinic-Kekele, also called for a national HPV vaccination policy to prevent cervical cancer, especially in the younger generation.
He again appealed for more cervical cancer screening centres and training for health professionals to undertake such exercises for prevention.
Cancer treatment is very expensive, but with early detection, treatment is possible, and women diagnosed with the disease are urged to visit the hospital, Mr Ackom added.
Imam Ahmed Adjei, the GMM Greater Accra Regional Imam, urged women to, just as they took the dictates of their religion seriously, should also prioritise their health to improve their well-being.
Mrs Qaneeta Paddiki Paddi-Quaye, GMM Greater Accra Regional Welfare Officer, said this formed part of their annual health screening exercise.
She said the target was to screen about 400 women at the end of the exercise, but at the time she spoke to the media, almost 300 people had been screened.
The Welfare Officer encouraged women not to introduce unapproved chemicals to their reproductive organs but take advantage of screening exercises to prevent diseases.
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